LIACOM researcher Sandra Miranda has officially taken office as President of the School of Communication and Media Studies (ESCS) of the Polytechnic University of Lisbon (IPL), becoming the first woman to lead the institution since its establishment in 1990.

The inauguration ceremony took place at ESCS and was attended by the President of the Polytechnic University of Lisbon, António Belo, who formally invested the new President, alongside representatives of the academic and institutional community.

In addition to being the first woman to serve as President of the School, Sandra Miranda is also the first President elected under the new electoral model established by the ESCS Statutes, published in 2024. In her inaugural address, she expressed the hope that this milestone will, in the near future, no longer be considered remarkable. “I sincerely hope that, in the near future, this will no longer be regarded as a noteworthy fact, but simply as the expression of an institution that values, above all, merit, competence, and diversity in its leadership,” she stated.

During her speech, the new President addressed the academic community, highlighting the work carried out by the teaching staff and reminding the audience that “teaching is only the most visible part of a much broader endeavour,” which also includes research, academic supervision, grant applications, and the development of projects that extend far beyond classroom hours. “There is an extraordinary generosity in academic life that rarely appears in reports or performance indicators. Yet it is precisely this generosity that enables a school to grow,” she emphasised.

Sandra Miranda also expressed her appreciation for the School’s non-academic staff, praising their professionalism, dedication, and daily commitment. “An institution is shaped by regulations, procedures, and processes, but it is ultimately built through the way it treats people,” she said, stressing that the contribution of these professionals is “truly irreplaceable.”

Addressing the students, whom she described as “the very reason this School exists,” the new President reminded them that they are also its greatest ambassadors. “The reputation of an institution is built above all on the quality, ethics, and professionalism of those who graduate from it,” she stated, arguing that the future of ESCS will be written by its new generations of graduates.

In the closing section of her address, the President reaffirmed the invitation she had extended during her election campaign, embracing the motto “Beyond More” (Mais Além) as a commitment to the School. “I cannot promise you a path without challenges. I can promise hard work, proximity, attentive listening, rigour, and an unwavering commitment to this School,” she declared. According to Sandra Miranda, the future of ESCS will depend on the entire academic community’s ability to face challenges “together, with the freedom to think, the courage to innovate, the determination to do better every day, and the quiet ambition never to lose what makes this School such a unique place.”

During the same ceremony, the new Vice-Presidents, Carla Murteira, also a LIACOM researcher, and Henrique Silva, were officially sworn in and will join the Presidency team for the current term of office. Carla Murteira pledged to carry out her new responsibilities with dedication, promising “hard work and wholehearted commitment to this institution.”

Henrique Silva thanked the community for the trust placed in him and highlighted his nearly 32-year connection with ESCS. “It is a tremendous honour and, at the same time, a great responsibility. I hope to repay this trust with the utmost dedication and commitment,” he said.

During the ceremony, the President of the Polytechnic University of Lisbon, António Belo, congratulated Sandra Miranda on her election and expressed his confidence in the continued growth and recognition of ESCS.

With the new President officially taking office, ESCS begins a new strategic chapter, seeking to strengthen its position as a leading institution in education, research, and innovation in Communication, while maintaining its commitment to academic excellence, freedom of expression, critical thinking, and engagement with society.