Partnerships and cooperation agreements with external organisations are essential to the mission of the School of Health of the Polytechnic University of Setúbal (ESS/IPS). They strengthen the connection between higher education, healthcare services, social organisations, local authorities, companies and the wider community.
These agreements provide students with access to diverse clinical, social and community settings, helping them develop technical, interpersonal, ethical and interprofessional skills. They also support work placements, applied research, professional training, knowledge transfer and community-based health initiatives.
The main value of these partnerships and cooperation agreements lies in the wide range of settings they make available to students. Collaboration with hospitals, primary healthcare services, social organisations, schools, patient associations, sports clubs and companies enables students to engage with different populations, stages of the life cycle and levels of healthcare complexity.
These partnerships should therefore be seen not merely as administrative arrangements, but as a strategic network that improves the quality of education, supports innovation and contributes to more responsive, inclusive and community-centred health services.
The network also has a strong presence in Setúbal, the Setúbal Peninsula, Lisbon and the Alentejo region, while maintaining a national and international reach. This combination strengthens the School’s connection to its territory while also exposing students and staff to different scientific, academic and professional contexts.
