Fresno State President Saúl Jiménez-Sandoval (left) and Dr. Michael Baum, executive council for the Luso-American Development Foundation, sign an agreement establishing a new pathway for Fresno State students to study in Portugal. Photo by Benjamin Kirk

Fresno State officials on Monday signed an agreement creating a new program for students to study in Portugal.

The program will allow Fresno State students to study for a year, a semester or a summer at partner universities in Portugal. 

“Learning another language and becoming active in someone else’s culture expands our students’ understanding of their own potential as visionary leaders,” stated Fresno State President Saúl Jiménez-Sandoval. “A seminal part of my own educational journey was through Universidade de Lisboa — an experience that promoted academic, emotional and mental growth that defines me to this day. Through this pathway, our students will have the opportunity to forge their own transformational experience in Portugal.” 

Students will be able to take classes taught in English or Portuguese in social sciences and humanities, business, economics, STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) and other academic disciplines while living in Lisbon and experiencing Portuguese culture.

The Luso-American Development Foundation [FLAD] — charged with the development of Portugal in cooperation with the U.S. — was the other signatory of Monday’s agreement.

“[The Luso-American Development Foundation (FLAD)] is thrilled to have this opportunity to celebrate with Fresno State and the larger Fresno community the partnership agreement that recognizes FLAD’s efforts to bring Fresno State students to Portugal through our Study in Portugal Network program,” Baum said. 

The new pathway is run through the Study Abroad office in the Division of Continuing and Global Education at Fresno State. The office provides students with individualized and group advising services to identify their learning goals, assist in choosing programs and make necessary plans and arrangements. Coordinators say students returning from their study abroad programs often report life-changing experiences.

“Study abroad is one of Fresno State’s high-impact practices: those university experiences that students carry with them for the rest of their lives. High-impact practices are linked to university retention, graduation rates and overall student success,” said Dr. Scott Moore, dean of the Division of Continuing and Global Education at Fresno State.  

Students interested in the program can apply now for the fall term in the Study Abroad office.

Founded in 2014, the Study in Portugal Network partners with four Lisbon-based universities to host students and faculty from the United States. They provide housing in downtown Lisbon, health and safety support, guided field trips, monthly city transportation costs and a robust cultural orientation and mentoring program. During the summer program, students also have the option to attend the University of the Azores at its Ponta Delgada campus.