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GUIMARÃES RODRIGUES
HONOURED ON THE 46TH ANNIVERSARY OF AAUMINHO
On 19 December, the Academic Association of the University of Minho paid tribute, at its 46th anniversary session, to Professor Emeritus of the School of Engineering, António Guimarães Rodrigues, who passed away on 5 November.
A video lasting several minutes showed the importance of the former rector and president of EEUM to his family, former students, and colleagues.
For the president of AAUMinho, Margarida Isaías, António Guimarães Rodrigues was ‘someone very special’. ‘We feel that my generation did not know Professor Guimarães Rodrigues very well, and we wanted to celebrate, pay tribute and raise awareness,’ explained the student.
‘Professor António Guimarães Rodrigues was a unique and irreplaceable rector at the best university in the country.’ These words were spoken by Pedro Soares, the last president of AAUMinho to deal with Guimarães Rodrigues as rector, and he had many memories he wanted to share.
“In his relationship with students and AAUMinho, the professor has always recognised the role of the latter, having publicly stated on numerous occasions that the Academic Association is a key partner of the University,” he added.
In his speech, in which he recalled the words dedicated to him in his last speech as president of the Academic Association, when Guimarães Rodrigues was awarded the title of honorary member of AAUMinho, Pedro Soares emphasised that it was at the “statutory meeting chaired by the professor that the statutes recognised, for the first time, in 2008, the Academic Association as the legitimate representative of the students‘. ’He never neglected the students, understanding that they are the fundamental reason for a university’s existence and that their strong presence would make the university better.
The President of the School of Engineering, Professor Pedro Arezes, had already announced that the name António Guimarães Rodrigues would be given to the ‘EEUM Scientific Publication Award’. In a statement addressed to the entire academic community on 14 November, he said: “As a simple tribute to Prof. António Guimarães Rodrigues, who was, among many other institutional positions, Vice-President of the School in 1995 and 1996 and President of the School in 1997-1999 and 1999-2000, the Presidency of the School has decided to name one of the merit awards that the School annually grants to members of its community after him. Thus, by decision of the Presidency team, the ‘EEUM Scientific Publication Award’ will now be formally known as the ‘António Guimarães Rodrigues Scientific Publication Award’.
In 2024, when this award is presented, we will remember this same tribute and symbolically highlight the remarkable contribution of Prof. António Guimarães Rodrigues to the construction and development of the School of Engineering and the University of Minho.
Listen to the statements by Pedro Soares and Margarida Isaías, former president and current president of AAUM respectively, as part of this tribute here.
Video tribute to António Guimarães Rodrigues by AAUM