Earn college credit and develop career-building skills while living and learning in the 2020 European Green Capital, Lisbon. Learn how Portugal is addressing environmental challenges through conservation projects, sustainable agriculture production, resource management, and environmental justice practices.
College Credit
Language
Social Change
Sustainability
Portugal generates on average 60% of the country’s electricity from renewable energy. Its approach to sustainable and accessible tourism has been hailed as a model for economic development. Green and smart cities like Lisbon—the 2020 European Green Capital—enhance environmental protection and contribute to innovative entrepreneurship. Portugal is also a leader in forest fire management and prevention, as well as social sustainability, spearheading projects such as the decriminalization of drugs.
This program explores the human-environment interface through the lens of sustainability practices. Analyze environmental crises, human well-being, and the connection between a green economy and sustainable consumption and production. Through lectures and discussions, excursions, and immersive practices, you will learn about sustainability and conservation, sustainable agriculture production, resource management and environmental good practice, and innovative use of renewable energy and its impact on sustainable economic growth.
On excursions to the coastal city Porto and to the Gerês breathtaking mountainous landscape, you will see sustainable agriculture and businesses, conservation projects, and environmental justice practices.
Explore the sample course syllabus to learn about teaching modules, learning outcomes, and program expectations.
Upon successful completion of this program, students will earn three college credits through The Experiment’s accredited partner institution, School for International Training.
The Experiment’s programs are designed to build skills that will help you succeed. In Portugal, you will learn:
TECHNICAL SKILLS
INTERPERSONAL SKILLS
This itinerary is only a sample and is subject to change. Because of factors such as group size and availability of in-country offerings such as festivals, your experience — including sites visited and the number of days spent in each location — may differ somewhat from the one presented below.
Orientation in Lisbon
Thematic Focus
Excursion to the North of Portugal
Program Reflection and Wrap-up in Lisbon
Departure
College credit-bearing programs are led by accomplished and experienced faculty approved by the School for International Training (SIT). Faculty of record typically live in the country of study and are responsible for instructional content, classroom and field experiences, and daily program operations. They work in close consultation with SIT’s Dean of Faculty and The Experiment staff team and group leaders to craft an engaging, college-level curriculum and design field and internship experiences that match student needs and interests.
Dr. Cátia Magro is the Academic Director for SIT’s study abroad program in Portugal. Dr, Magro holds a PhD in environment and sustainability from NOVA University of Lisbon – School of Science and Technology (FCT-NOVA). A native of Lisbon, Portugal, Cátia is passionate about the protection of nature and technology, which led to her career path as an environmental engineer. Her research focused primarily on decontamination technologies, nano/materials, hydrogen production, sensors and remote sensing, which resulted in one patent application, 15 Science Citation Index articles, and four book chapters. Driven by her enthusiasm to contribute to environmental actions and knowledge transfer, she joined The Journey supported by the European Institute of Innovation & Technology – EIT-Climate KIC , through which she was able to collaborate with other climate action advocates. Moreover, owing to her passion for communication she was head of the dissemination team of Center for Environmental and Sustainability Research – CENSE Research Centre at FCT-NOVA . Cátia is an ongoing mentor for the HiseedTech program, where she supports research groups in the design of ideas and products applied to industry partners. She was most recently a postdoctoral researcher in the physics department of NOVA, conducting research on the potential of sensor networks and satellites for volatiles/organic contaminants’ monitoring. Besides her academic work, Cátia enjoys traveling, spending time near the sea, and reading fantasy fiction books that allow for escapes to magical places. Cátia joined SIT Study Abroad as academic director in Portugal in 2021.
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