Could you briefly introduce yourself?
My name is Lara Portugal, and I am a knowledge valorisation manager at INOPOL Entrepreneurship Academy, the organic unit responsible for promoting innovation and entrepreneurship, knowledge transfer, and employability at the Polytechnic University of Coimbra. I collaborate in WP6 – Knowledge Transfer, Society and Ecology, which is responsible for supporting the ecological transition within the Alliance and promoting the development of multilateral synergies between education, research, businesses, and industry, with the main objective of strengthening capacity building, as well as the production and transfer of knowledge and solutions, in close coordination with the needs of local communities and the labour market.
Can you share one concrete way UNIgreen is making a positive impact?
UNIgreen has increasingly established itself as a disruptive agent in the European Higher Education space, promoting sustainable, inclusive and innovative practices. Through cooperation between universities, research centers, businesses and industry, the Alliance fosters the creation of synergies that strengthen capacity building, knowledge production and the transfer of solutions aligned with major societal challenges. Its contribution to the ecological transition, the promotion of academic and scientific mobility and the development of skills that respond to the demands of the labour market and the needs of local communities is particularly noteworthy. In this way, UNIgreen acts as a driver of innovation and social impact, responding to the needs of local communities and the labour market, in line with the priorities of the European Union.
What is one lesson you’ve learned from working with such a diverse and international team?
Working with such a diverse and international team has revealed that the true value of a project lies in the plurality of perspectives. Each person brings different experiences, contexts, and ways of thinking, which greatly enhances the ability to find creative and effective solutions. I learned that active listening and clear communication are essential for building trust and understanding, especially when working in different cultures. I also realised the importance of flexibility and openness to adapting new ideas and methods. This experience reinforced my conviction that diversity is not only an added value, but an essential driver for innovation, inclusion and collective success.
If UNIgreen were Plants, how would you describe them?
If UNIgreen were plants, it would be like a living and diverse forest. There would be strong trees, representing the solid knowledge and roots of our institutions, climbing plants, spreading and connecting people and ideas, and flowers of various colours, bringing diversity, creativity and new perspectives. Together, they form a living, sustainable and fertile space, always growing and renewing itself.
