The ceremony gathered around 250 former and current students, faculty, researchers, staff, and guests, highlighting the area's decisive role in the scientific, technological, and economic transformation of the region. Attendees included UMinho's Rector, Pedro Arezes, the President of the School of Engineering, António Vicente, and the Director of the Computer Science Department, Paulo Novais.
Ricardo Araújo emphasized the profound connection between the University of Minho's trajectory and the development of Guimarães, stating that the institution "makes us all very proud". The Mayor expressed the desire to continue fostering a fruitful relationship with the University, highlighting its role as a unifying element between Guimarães and Braga.
For his part, Pedro Arezes pointed out the pioneering nature of the Computer Science Department in a field that has undergone profound transformation over the last five decades. "The Computer Science Department was, in fact, a pioneering department in an area that today we consider absolutely transversal to all facets of our lives, which is Computer Science," stated the Rector, praising the department's capacity for reinvention and transformation demonstrated over the years.
The commemorative program included a visit to the exhibition celebrating 50 years of Computer Science education, displayed at the Department, and a moment for networking and socializing among attendees.
