On 20 and 21 July, the public exams for Habilitation in the branch of knowledge in Industrial and Systems Engineering, requested by Dr Paula Fernanda Varandas Ferreira, took place in the Hall of Acts of the Azurém Campus of the University of Minho, Guimarães, having been unanimously approved.

The jury was chaired by Dr Maria Madalena Teixeira Araújo, Full Professor of the Department of Production and Systems of the School of Engineering of the University of Minho, and by Dr Ana Paula Ferreira Dias Barbosa Póvoa, Full Professor of the Department of Engineering and Management of the Instituto Superior Técnico of the University of Lisbon, and Dr Virgílio Cruz Machado, Full Professor of the Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering of the Faculty of Science and Technology of the Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Dr Maria Isabel Rebelo Teixeira Soares, Jubilate Full Professor, Faculty of Economics, University of Porto, Dr João Carlos de Oliveira Matias, Full Professor, Department of Economics, Management, Industrial Engineering and Tourism, University of Aveiro, Dr Goran Putnik, Full Professor, Department of Production and Systems, School of Engineering, University of Minho, and Dr Cláudio Manuel Martins Alves, Full Professor, Department of Production and Systems, School of Engineering, University of Minho.

The Habilitation degree is awarded to professors with a professional curriculum of high merit who demonstrate a relevant activity in terms of advanced research, training or guidance, and the authorship of scientific works of recognised quality after obtaining the doctoral degree.