Évora, Portugal – September 2025.

The University of Évora welcomed academic leaders and experts from Africa and Europe for a week-long study visit dated 22nd –26th September 2025 under the Waste Reduction and Management (WARM) Project, funded by the EU Erasmus+ Capacity Building in Higher Education (CBHE) programme. The visit marked an important milestone in advancing joint curricula development and knowledge transfer in sustainable waste management.
The programme opened at the Colégio António Luís Verney (CLAV) Building of the University of Évora with a two-part seminar on Sustainable Waste Management, where participants engaged in dynamic exchanges on innovative solutions to global environmental challenges.
Beyond the lecture halls, delegates were treated to a guided cultural tour of Évora’s historic city center, underscoring the city’s role as both a guardian of heritage and a host for cutting-edge sustainability research.
The week blended academic reflection with practical, on-the-ground experiences. Delegates toured the Alentejo Agricultural and Agro-Food Biotechnology Center (CEBAL) in Beja, gaining insights into laboratory research and organic waste valorisation.

The field programme also included a visit to the Alqueva Dam and Lake, one of Europe’s largest strategic water reservoirs, and the INOVCIRCOLIVE field project, showcasing applied circular economy practices.
Further study visits to GESAMB’s waste management facilities provided hands-on exposure to Portugal’s integrated recycling and waste treatment systems. These tours offered delegates practical models for adapting solutions to their home countries.
The visit also featured academic presentations at the University of Évora’s Mitra campus. Prof. Fátima Baptista, Director of the Mediterranean Institute for Agriculture, Environment and Development (MED), and Prof. Vasco Fitas da Cruz, specialist in circular economy projects, led discussions on sustainable innovation and curriculum design.
Delegates closed the day with a cultural highlight, an Alentejo cheese tasting, illustrating the blend of academia, tradition, and community that defined the week.
On Friday, 26th September 2025, delegates toured the Colégio Espírito Santo historic building before a formal closing session brought the Portuguese visit to an end.