On February 1st and 2nd, José Manuel Sena Cruz, professor at the Department of Civil Engineering of the School of Engineering, obtained the academic degree of habilitation in the Civil Engineering Knowledge Branch. Sena Cruz was approved by unanimity of the members of the jury.

The exams took place in a mixed format (live and videoconference), and the jury was composed of Pedro Miguel Ferreira Martins Arezes, Full Professor of the Department of Production and Systems of the School of Engineering of the University of Minho; Eduardo Nuno Brito Santos Júlio, Full Professor of the Department of Civil Engineering, Architecture, and Geo-Resources of Instituto Superior Técnico; Humberto Salazar Amorim Varum, Full Professor of the Department of Civil Engineering of the School of Engineering of the University of Porto; Paulo Jorge de Melo Matias Faria de Vila Real, Full Professor of the Civil Engineering Department of the University of Aveiro; Paulo José Brandão Barbosa Lourenço, Full Professor of the Civil Engineering Department of the School of Engineering of the University of Minho; and Joaquim António Oliveira Barros, Full Professor of the Civil Engineering Department of the School of Engineering of the University of Minho.

The habilitation degree is granted to professors to whom a high merit professional curriculum demonstrating relevant research activity, advanced training or supervision is recognised, along with the authorship of high quality scientific papers after obtaining a doctoral degree.