Academic Association of the University of Lisbon - AAUL
# Academic Association of the University of Lisbon - AAUL

Coordenadas: 38° 44' 52" N 9° 09' 14" O
The Academic Association of the University of Lisbon (AAUL), founded on March 8, 2007, is the representative body for the collective interests of all students at the University of Lisbon (ULisboa).

## AAUL Statutes and Bicameral Model

Statutes of the Academic Association of the University of Lisbon (AAUL) Within the Academic Association of the University of Lisbon (AAUL), the paradigm of two chambers, embodied by the Magna Assembly and the General Council, finds parallels in the upper and lower houses of bicameral parliamentary systems. The term upper house is particularly relevant when analyzing the structure and function of these bodies within the AAUL context.
The General Council of AAUL emerges as the representative body of the Student Associations and the students of the Faculties, playing a key role in defining the programmatic lines of AAUL's activities. The representativeness of these associations and faculties in the General Council reflects the diversity of interests and perspectives, providing a more comprehensive and institutionalized vision.
On the other hand, the Magna Assembly, akin to a lower house, represents all the students of the University of Lisbon. This is the highest deliberative point, where all students have a direct voice in decision-making on matters related to AAUL. The direct participation of students in the Magna Assembly reflects the popular and democratic nature of this chamber, in contrast to the more institutional character of the General Council.
This bicameral structure, similar to parliamentary systems in various parts of the world, echoes examples such as the Council of the European Union and the European Parliament, reflecting the specific nuances of the European Union. Similarly, in the United States, the Senate represents the federative states, while the House of Representatives directly reflects the voice of the citizens. In the United Kingdom, the House of Lords, with an aristocratic character, contrasts with the House of Commons, which represents the general population. These diverse examples highlight the adaptability and effectiveness of the bicameral model in managing different perspectives and interests, ensuring a more inclusive and representative approach to decisions relevant to the student community of the ULisboa.

## Social Bodies
### Magna Assembly

The Magna Assembly is the highest deliberative body of AAUL, composed of all students of the University of Lisbon. It deliberates on all matters related to AAUL's activities and other issues of interest to the Members. It is coordinated by the Board of the Magna Assembly and General Council, composed of a President, two Vice-Presidents, and two Secretaries.

### Fiscal Council

The Fiscal Council of AAUL is the supervisory body of AAUL in financial matters, composed of a President, two Vice-Presidents, and two Rapporteurs.

### General Council

The General Council is the representative body of the Student Associations of UL, which have joined AAUL, and of the students of the Faculties of the University of Lisbon, tasked with defining the programmatic lines of AAUL's activities and monitoring and evaluating their execution. It is composed of the Presidents of the associated AEs and 29 directly elected students, according to the percentage of students that their institution represents within the University of Lisbon, with at least two guaranteed per institution. The work of the General Council is coordinated by the Board of the Magna Assembly and General Council, which is composed of a President, two Vice-Presidents, and two Secretaries.

### General Directorate

The General Directorate is the executive body of AAUL, which defines and coordinates AAUL's activities to fulfill the statutorily provided attributions, as well as the deliberations of the Magna Assembly and General Council. It is composed of a President, a Treasurer, a Secretary-General, Vice-Presidents, Members/Coordinators, and Collaborators. The organizational structure of this body is defined by each elected General Directorate in the way that best serves its objectives, based on AAUL's statutes.

## History

In a time when the polarization of different representative structures made it difficult to defend the common interests of the students of the University of Lisbon, the need arose to ensure the presence of a unified voice. In a University of Lisbon characterized by the pride of the historical and political weight of the Academic and Student Associations (AAEEs) established there, the need to build a universal structure capable of raising its voice and its demands became evident.
In an era when the problems of the students of the University of Lisbon were disregarded in the context of the local and national student movement, it was necessary to dream, a dream that materialized with the birth of the Academic Association of the University of Lisbon (AAUL) at its Founding Assembly on March 8, 2007, in the Noble Hall of the Rectorate of the University of Lisbon.
Founded by the Academic Association of the Faculty of Law (AAFDL), the Academic Association of Dentistry of Lisbon (AAMDL), the Student Association of Plastic Arts and Design of the Faculty of Fine Arts of the University of Lisbon (AEAPDFBAUL), the Student Association of the Faculty of Sciences of Lisbon (AEFCL), the Student Association of the Faculty of Arts of the University of Lisbon (AEFLUL), and the Student Association of the Faculty of Pharmacy of the University of Lisbon (AEFFUL), AAUL emerges as a convergence structure. It is born as a structure based on coordinated diversity and assured pluralism, where the representation of all Academic and Student Associations is based on the autonomy of their respective Boards and is continuously driven by the desire to give the University of Lisbon an identity spirit, through which it is possible to unite students in support of their convictions.
From the outset, AAUL sought to ensure that no student sees their voice diminished due to the school they come from, ensuring that everyone has a space to be heard, especially in the election of Social Bodies where each student directly elects their representatives and where monopolies in decision-making by certain Organizational Units, which might be tempted to impose greater relevance due to their larger numbers, are not allowed.

### Presidentes da Direção-Geral

Presidentes da Direção-Geral da AAUL :
| Período do Mandato da DG | Nome do Presidente da DG | Escola do Presidente da DG | Presidente da DG/AAUL |
| maio de 2007 a dezembro de 2007 | André Tiago Pardal da Silva | Faculdade de Direito (1) | I Presidente da DG/AAUL |
| dezembro de 2007 a dezembro de 2008 | Paulo José de Sousa Nascimento Pinheiro | Faculdade de Direito (2) | II Presidente da DG/AAUL |
| dezembro de 2008 a outubro de 2009 | Gonçalo Assis | Faculdade de Medicina Dentária (1) | III Presidente da DG/AAUL |
| outubro de 2009 a janeiro de 2011 | André Moz Caldas | Faculdade de Medicina Dentária (2) & Faculdade de Direito (3) | IV Presidente da DG/AAUL |
| janeiro de 2011 a fevereiro de 2012 | Tiago Gonçalves | Faculdade de Direito (4) | V Presidente da DG/AAUL |
| fevereiro de 2012 a julho de 2013 | João Marecos | Faculdade de Direito (5) | VI Presidente da DG/AAUL |
| julho de 2013 a outubro de 2014 | André Machado | Faculdade de Direito (6) | VII Presidente da DG/AAUL |
| outubro de 2014 a fevereiro de 2016 | João Pedro Vieira | Faculdade de Medicina (1) | VIII Presidente da DG/AAUL |
| fevereiro de 2016 a fevereiro 2017 | André Ferreira | Faculdade de Psicologia (1) | IX Presidente da DG/AAUL |
| fevereiro de 2019 a junho de 2019 | Rodrigo Freitas | Faculdade de Direito (7) | X Presidente da DG/AAUL |
| junho de 2019 a abril de 2020 | João Pedro Gomes | Instituto Superior de Agronomia (1) | XI Presidente da DG/AAUL |
| maio de 2020 a junho de 2021 | Hélder de Sousa Semedo | Faculdade de Direito (8) | XII Presidente da DG/AAUL |
| outubro de 2021 até junho de 2022 | Miguel de Sousa Afonso | Faculdade de Direito (9) | XIII Presidente da DG/AAUL |
| junho de 2022 até junho de 2023 | José Afonso Garcia | Instituto Superior Técnico (1) | XIV Presidente da DG/AAUL |
| junho de 2023 até ao presente | Diogo Ferreira Leite | Instituto Superior de Ciências Sociais e Políticas (1) & Instituto Superior de Economia e Gestão (1) | XV Presidente da DG/AAUL |

### Presidentes da Mesa da Assembleia Magna e Conselho Geral da AAUL

Presidentes da Mesa da Assembleia Magna e Conselho Geral da AAUL :
| Período do Mandato | Nome do Presidente da MAM & CG | Escola do Presidente da MAM & CG |
| maio de 2007 a dezembro de 2007 | Alvaro Regueira | Faculdade de Direito |
| dezembro de 2007 a dezembro de 2008 | Fernando Arrobas da Silva | Faculdade de Medicina Dentária |
| dezembro de 2008 a outubro de 2009 | Manuel Carvalho | Faculdade de Direito |
| janeiro de 2011 a fevereiro de 2012 | Filipa Calisto | Faculdade de Farmácia |
| fevereiro de 2012 a julho de 2013 | Inês Fonseca | Faculdade de Medicina |
| julho de 2013 a outubro de 2014 | Miguel Morais de Almeida | Faculdade de Medicina |
| outubro de 2014 a fevereiro de 2016 | Pedro Gonçalves | Faculdade de Direito |
| fevereiro de 2016 a fevereiro de 2019 | Bruno Coucello | Faculdade de Ciências |
| fevereiro de 2019 a maio de 2020 | Eric Habibo | Instituto Superior de Economia e Gestão |
| 10 de maio de 2020 a 17 de maio de 2021 | Rúben Felizardo | Faculdade de Medicina Dentária |
| 17 de maio de 2021 até 14 de junho de 2022 | Isa Bernardino Góis | Instituto Superior de Agronomia |
| 14 de junho de 2022 até 12 de junho de 2023 | Miguel de Sousa Afonso | Faculdade de Direito |
| 12 de junho de 2023 até 20 de junho de 2024 | Miguel Dias Cardoso | Instituto Superior Técnico |
| 20 de junho de 2024 até ao presente | Marco Assunção | Instituto de Educação |

## Objectives

In addition to advocating for the interests of ULisboa students, this Association aims to:
* Promote cultural, recreational, educational, and social activities to foster interaction among students;
* Encourage student associationism as an expression of student responsibility and involvement in society;
* Establish and maintain cooperation with all student organizations, both nationally and internationally, whose principles and attributions align with those of AAUL;
* Participate in defining educational policy in all areas and legislatively, in all matters concerning higher education.

## Values

AAUL stands out in the student association world for the uniqueness of its organization: being a structure with a hybrid operational model, incorporating both traditionally associative and formally federative aspects. Our structure strives for constant contact with Academic and Student Associations, promoting continuous consultation with the representatives of students from each School of our institution. These Associations thus play a crucial role in the life of AAUL, ensuring proximity to the realities and issues characteristic of all Schools of the University of Lisbon and enabling, through a combination of efforts, the reinforcement of our voice and safeguarding of our students' interests.

### Subsidiarity

AAUL firmly respects its Statutes, which define its operational form, and in this perspective, its hybrid model ensures the absence of conflicts of competence and operational spheres with other student association dynamics, by the principle of subsidiarity. AAUL may only intervene in issues experienced within a specific Organizational Unit if it has the agreement of the respective Student Association, thus making the proximity between AAUL and its Members unavoidable and ensuring that AAUL will never, under any circumstances, fall into issues of dual representation or overtake the Student Associations of our University, whether affiliated or not. AAUL safeguards the collective interests of all students at the University of Lisbon but understands, respects, and encourages the need for Academic and Student Associations to establish their own independent activities, while promoting collaboration between AAEE’s and AAUL whenever justified.

### Innovation

Innovation is a prominent value in the foundational principles of the Academic Association of the University of Lisbon. Resulting from an incessant search for new approaches and strategies aimed at improving the student experience at the University of Lisbon and adapting to the constant changes we face, AAUL seeks to embrace innovation to continue representing and supporting students effectively and relevantly. This innovation is reflected in the constant need to adapt our internal organizational model to present needs and to innovate externally to improve our communication with other Association partners.

### Equality

AAUL has an unwavering commitment to promoting equality among its members and the academic community in general. This commitment extends beyond equality of opportunities to include a philosophy of inclusion, mutual respect, and justice. In this regard, the Academic Association of the University of Lisbon actively works to create an inclusive environment that celebrates diversity while combating any form of discrimination inside and outside the Academy. Thus, AAUL will always advocate for equality of opportunities within the University of Lisbon and in Portuguese Higher Education as a whole.

### Democratic Participation

Democratic participation is, for the Academic Association of the University of Lisbon, a fundamental principle present throughout its activities. AAUL, as the representative structure of students, promotes active and democratic participation of students at all decision-making levels. Democracy in AAUL is evidenced through various mechanisms, with elections for Social Bodies being one of the pillars of its participatory nature. All students from the various Schools integrated into the University of Lisbon have the right to run for and directly elect their representatives, ensuring that voices from different sectors of the academic community are represented. Additionally, in Magna Assemblies, as a scrutiny body, students have the opportunity to discuss and decide on positions and many of the points guiding AAUL's actions. The General Council of AAUL also serves as a fundamental body for listening to the different sensitivities within the University of Lisbon, through the Student Associations represented in it and the General Councilors directly elected to represent their schools in the AAUL General Council. But democratic participation is not limited to elections or assemblies and the General Council; AAUL continuously promotes student inclusion through regular consultations, open forums, working group meetings, and other initiatives that encourage active student participation in the life of the association.
Transparency, as a means of democratic scrutiny, is also highly valued, ensuring that relevant information is shared and decisions are made clearly and transparently for the entire community. Thus, it is indisputable that democratic participation in the Academic Association of the University of Lisbon is a central value that allows students to play an active role in shaping policies, promoting positive changes, and defending their interests, thereby creating a more inclusive, participative, and representative academic community.

### Plurality

Plurality is a fundamental pillar of our structure, reflecting the diversity of ideas, origins, and perspectives present in the Academy. AAUL, as a structure where heterogeneity is celebrated and valued, recognizes that the richness of the student experience is enhanced by the multiplicity of voices and viewpoints. The diversity within AAUL encompasses not only fields of study but also students' cultural, socioeconomic, and political identities, and its plurality is manifested through various initiatives that encourage the sharing of opinions and debate of ideas. Promoting plurality within AAUL extends beyond the physical limits of the University, as our structure seeks to establish synergies and partnerships with other student organizations, both local, national, and international. Plurality in the Academic Association of the University of Lisbon is more than a mere expression of differences; it is an active commitment to celebrating and promoting diversity as an essential means of enriching the student experience. By embracing and celebrating a variety of ideas, cultures, and perspectives, AAUL creates a vibrant and inclusive environment that values and respects the individuality of each student.

### Solidarity

The principle of solidarity is a fundamental tenet of AAUL's activities. As a representative structure, direct contact with the individual and collective needs of our community must be present in the Association's actions. AAUL seeks to be attentive and available to help and promote attitudes that favor the common good of our students, supporting them in the face of difficulties and standing up for others whenever necessary. Thus, it is essential that members of the Academic Association of the University of Lisbon are willing to adopt the values of solidarity and respect for Human Rights, in order to actively participate in building a more just and equitable Academy, where pluralism, non-discrimination, tolerance, and justice prevail. AAUL should maintain lines of contact and direct consultation with students individually so that it can act to safeguard their interests whenever necessary.

### Rigor

AAUL, in all its components, should strive for rigor in the transmission of information about the institution it represents and in communication with its students, ensuring clear, concise, and precise communication, regardless of the complexity of the issue or the nature of the message. AAUL must ensure that information transmitted is verified with the appropriate sources, safeguarding privileged information and maintaining rigor in representing students, always remaining faithful to pursuing its objectives and protecting the rights of the Student Community. Rigor should also extend to the management of AAUL's assets, always ensuring the generational sustainability of the Association and ensuring that resources are used efficiently. This reality also includes managing AAUL's financial resources, as a non-profit organization, with its leaders adhering to the highest standards of rigor and transparency in managing the Association's funds.
* ↑ "Cerimónia de Tomada de Posse da AAUL" Reitoria da Universidade de Lisboa (2007), acesso em 08/12/2007
* ↑ "Lisboa em Números (2019/2020),
* ↑ Parlamento, Assembleia da Republica. «André Tiago Pardal da Silva - Deputado na Legislatura XII»
* ↑ «André Moz Caldas - Secretário de Estado da Presidência do Conselho de Ministros». www.portugal.gov.pt. Consultado em 1 de maio de 2022
* ↑ «RELATÓRIO DE ACTIVIDADES RELATÓRIO DE CONTAS - PDF Free Download». docplayer.com.br. Consultado em 1 de maio de 2022
* ↑ DG AAUL 2021-2022. «Relatório de atividades e relatório de contas da Direção-Geral da AAUL 2021-2022»
* ↑ «PAO - Plano de Atividades e Orçamento da AAUL para 2022-2023»
* ↑ «Mesa da Assembleia Magna». Lista A - AAUL. 3 de julho de 2013. Consultado em 1 de maio de 2022