EUSA’S BEST
UNIVERSITY
AWARD
(2009-2019)
At the occasion of EUSA’s 20th anniversary celebrations held in Aveiro, Portugal,
the University of Minho was recognised as EUSA’s Best University over the
previous 10-year period (2009-2019).
The Rector of the University of Minho Mr
Rui Vieira de Castro shared his joy in receiv-
ing the award, while outlining what makes
EUSA events so special for the university’s
students.
Congratulations on University of Minho’s
success in being named EUSA’s Best
University over the last decade! What
does this award mean to the university?
This award recognises all the work and
effort that the University of Minho (UMinho)
has put into developing university sports
through a partnership between our Social
Services and the Students Union, and
the commitment of our community with
sports activity.
Throughout the last decade, UMinho has
won countless medals at European level,
made it to the Top 3 of EUSA’s Ranking on a
regular basis and was one of the institu-
tions with the most athletes involved in
both the European Universities Champion-
ships and Games.
In Portugal, we were the first university to
create specific conditions allowing the de-
velopment of a student-athlete dual career.
Being awarded the title of EUSA’s Best
University over the past ten years assures
us that we have been making the right
choices.
What do you believe was the biggest
contributing factor in the university’s
success over the last ten years?
Creating the Sports and Culture Depart-
ment inside the University of Minho’s Social
Services in 1995 was a very important
decision. Since then, in partnership with
the University Students Union, UMinho has
been at the forefront of developing a strong
sports culture among students as a key
component of the integral model of educa-
tion that we pursue.Among the other major success factors are
the diversity of sports that are offered, the
quality of our infrastructures (sports com-
plexes, canteens, university dormitories),
the existence of a well consolidated net-
work of partners at regional level involving
local councils, sports associations, sports
clubs and schools, and the setting up of
measures to enhance the dual careers of
the student athletes.How is sport organised and perceived
at your University, both in recreational
sports as well as competitive ones, and
in supporting the dual career of the
student athletes?At our University, sports are part of the
daily life of our community. We offer
approximately 70 different sports and
organise about 150 events that promote,
on a regular basis, per year, the practice of
sports by more than 7 000 people, which
corresponds to a third of our academic
community.We believe that sports activity can provide
our students with useful skills both to their
academic and their future professional
lives such as respect for others, team spirit,
determination, resilience and the capacity
for sacrifice. Therefore, we make sports a
central element of our educational agenda.What in your opinion makes EUSA com-
petitions so highly-anticipated among
student-athletes across the continent?For many student athletes, participating in
EUSA competitions is the first opportunity
they have to take part in a major interna-
tional competition. Many UMinho athletes
who later took part in major federated
competitions, at national and interna-
tional level, were better prepared because
they previously had the opportunity to
compete in the European Universities
Championships.EUSA competitions always provide an
excellent opportunity for our students to
get acquainted with new countries and
new cultures, and a fantastic opportunity
to meet a large diversity of people and
make new friends. To participate in EUSA
competitions is really a unique experience.Finally, what are some of your per-
sonal favourite memories from a EUSA
competition/event?The most striking moment I can remember
was the Closing Ceremony of the 2019
European Universities Futsal Champion-
ship, which took place at UMinho.It was a great competition that brought
together more than 800 people from our
University and our region, for over a week.
It ended in the best way possible – with
the presence of the Portuguese Minister of
Education, who awarded the University of
Minho with the Medal of Honour for Sports
Merit.Of course, it is also hard to forget the
EUSA 20 Years Gala. The decision taken by
EUSA of awarding UMinho the prize of the
Best University of the Decade was received
with intense joy by all our community.