Faculdade de Desporto da Universidade do Porto

Have you ever wondered how a training ground for physical education instructors evolved into a renowned sports science hub? Right here, before us, stands the Faculdade de Desporto da Universidade do Porto, or FADEUP. The FADEUP’s story starts not with university lecture halls, but with a humble training course. In 1964, a program for physical education instructors began, forming the core of what would become the Escola de Instrutores de Educaçao Física do Porto in 1969. This marked the beginning of the Faculdade de Desporto da Universidade do Porto’s journey. These early initiatives were at the secondary education level. A significant shift occurred in 1975 when physical education training in Portugal transitioned to the university level. On December 3, 1975, the Instituto Superior de Educaçao Física (ISEF-UP) was born, becoming part of the University of Porto. This date is officially recognized as the founding day of the Faculdade de Desporto da Universidade do Porto. The institution continued to evolve. In 1989, the Law of Autonomy allowed Portuguese universities to reorganize. The ISEF-UP was renamed the Faculdade de Ciências do Desporto e de Educação Física da Universidade do Porto (FCDEF-UP). A final transformation occurred in 2005 with the revision of the University of Porto’s statutes. The faculty adopted its current name: Faculdade de Desporto da Universidade do Porto (FADEUP). Since 1997, the FADEUP has resided in the University of Porto’s Polo II (Asprela) campus. This complex was designed with the world’s best sports and physical education schools in mind. Today, the Faculdade de Desporto da Universidade do Porto offers a wide array of undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral programs. The FADEUP’s teaching is deeply intertwined with research. They delve into socially relevant topics like the relationship between physical activity and health. They also study how to promote a better quality of life for the population. The Faculdade de Desporto da Universidade do Porto stands as a testament to its own evolution. It progressed from humble beginnings to become a prominent institution in sports science and education.