The solemn opening of the 2023/2024 school year took place on 25 October. 

The ceremony took place in the Dr José Bayolo Pacheco de Amorim auditorium on the campus in Tomar and was attended by His Excellency the Minister of Internal Affairs, Professor José Luís Carneiro. 

The event included the traditional academic procession followed by the opening session with speeches by the President of IPT, Professor João Freitas Coroado, the President of the IPT General Council, Professor Inguelore Scheunemann, and the President of the IPT Student Union, Isis Simas. 

The mission of the Polytechnic of Tomar, its expectations for the future and the challenges it faces were some of the topics addressed by the President of the Polytechnic in his speech. The full statement can be found here. 

For his part, the Minister of the Interior, Professor José Luís Carneiro, offered words of hope and encouragement to the students as they embark on their academic journey. "The IPT's strategy of liaising with local, regional and national organisations, in particular the Security Forces and Civil Protection, must be praised. One of the best examples is the master's degree in Civil Protection in partnership with the Escola Nacional de Bombeiros - Portugal, and the professional course (TESP) in Security and Civil Protection. Two excellent examples of the role that higher education institutions can play in fulfilling their mission to serve the community, in training and developing technical skills in an area that increasingly requires specialised knowledge, and in creating a culture of safety, which results from the very nature of the subjects taught," he said. 

"I congratulate the Polytechnic of Tomar, especially the students, at this very important moment, when objectives are being renewed and new goals are being set," the member of the government concluded. 

The ceremony ended with a symbolic tribute to employees with 25 years of service to the IPT and a moment of socialisation.