The 2025 edition of VEM – Vamos Experimentar a UMInho (Let’s Try UMInho), entitled Engineering for a Better Future, was attended by 30 students from schools in the region, coming from 10 cities and 14 schools. The distribution across the 10 cities was as follows: Barcelos 8 students, Guimarães 5 students, Braga 5 students, Vila Verde 3 students, Vizela 3 students, Póvoa de Lanhoso 2, and finally Amares, Esposende, Ponte de Lima and Vila Nova de Famalicão, 1 student. The distribution of the students’ schools of origin was as follows: Vale D’Este Primary and Secondary School, Viatodos (4 students), Alcaides de Faria Secondary School (3 students), Póvoa de Lanhoso Secondary School (3 students), Vila Verde Secondary School (3 students), Carlos Amarante Secondary School (3 students), Santos Simões School Group (2 students), João Paulo II College (2 students), S. Bento Primary and Secondary School, Vizela (2 students), Barcelos Secondary School (2 students), Caldas de Vizela Secondary School (2 students), Arga e Lima Primary and Secondary School (1 student), Henrique Medina Secondary School: (1 student), Amares Secondary School (1 student), Maximinos Secondary School (1 student).
The engineering activities were multidisciplinary, and we selected two of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) that most attract students when choosing their courses: SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being) and SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure).
Multidisciplinarity in engineering is therefore an essential condition for generating real impact on society. In this activity, we discussed cross-cutting skills such as communication, leadership, ethics, functional design, and sustainability, topics that will be an integral part of careers in the future, with activities facilitated by companies and human resources specialists. As for the technical and human skills of engineers, it was explained that they must always be ready to innovate and improve the future.
Regarding the laboratory activities carried out for the theme: Health and Well-being, we highlight:
‘Medicinal Fibres’, ‘Viruses that Kill Bacteria’, ‘Hospital Projects’, ‘Logistics Game’,
Regarding the laboratory activities carried out for the theme Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure, we highlight: ‘Journey into the world of Information Systems’, ‘Sustainable Alternatives to Detergents’, ‘Sustainable Insulation’, ‘An Industrial Project – Continental’, “Polymers in Industry
Some activities were common to all areas of Engineering, such as ‘electronic experiments’, learning about Formula Student (a car competition between various universities), and they also had the opportunity to participate in the charity activity: ‘Share a Toy’ – a project that gives new life to toys, which will then be given to underprivileged children this Christmas.
Once again, the atmosphere was one of ‘experimentation,’ but the choice of courses has already become very serious for these 11th and 12th grade students, who have the best grades in the region. It should be noted that this activity is an exclusive prize from UMinho for the best students in the region.
