Carlos Oliveira Cruz Reflects on Shaping the Future of Civil Engineering

Professor Carlos Oliveira Cruz a researcher at CERIS and Full Professor at Instituto Superior Técnico, recently appeared on the Passa a Dois podcast to reflect on the future of civil engineering education, the growing international recognition of Portuguese research and the technological transformation reshaping the sector.
During the interview, Carlos Oliveira Cruz highlighted the strong recovery in civil engineering in Portugal, alongside the growing international recognition of research conducted at Instituto Superior Técnico. Referring to the Shanghai Ranking, he noted that Técnico ranks among Europe’s leading institutions in civil engineering research, behind only Delft University of Technology and Imperial College London, reflecting sustained investment in scientific excellence in recent decades.
The discussion also addressed the evolution of Portuguese universities, which have recently shifted from a model primarily focused on teaching to one strongly driven by scientific research, thereby significantly boosting the international reputation of engineering education in Portugal. He also emphasised that Técnico competes with leading global institutions despite operating on substantially smaller budgets.
A central topic of the discussion was the relationship between research, innovation and industry. Carlos Oliveira Cruz distinguished research as the process of transforming funding into knowledge, while innovation converts that knowledge into economic and societal value through collaboration with industry. In this context, he argued for stronger university–industry partnerships, including doctoral research conducted in cooperation with the private sector.
The interview also explored the need to strengthen public perception of civil engineering among younger generations. Although interest in the field declined during the years of economic crisis, he noted that demand for civil engineering programmes and entry grades are once again increasing, signalling renewed attractiveness.
Looking ahead, Carlos Oliveira Cruz accentuated that universities must prepare students for a rapidly evolving technological landscape. Rather than focusing solely on specific software or technical tools, he emphasised the importance of developing transferable skils, including critical thinking, problem-solving and adaptability. "Técnico teaches you how to think," he stated, highlighting that software tools change quickly, but analytical capacity remains essential.
Carlos Oliveira Cruz also highlighted the growing importance of interdisciplinary collaboration in engineering and construction, bringing together fields such as civil engineering, technology, architecture, economics and law to address today’s major challenges — from housing to climate change — which require integrated, cross-disciplinary approaches.
Reflecting on emerging technological trends, Carlos Oliveira Cruz pointed to the transformative potential of artificial intelligence, robotics, drones and building information modelling (BIM) in the construction sector, arguing that civil engineering must "regain its sex appeal" among younger generations. In his view, civil engineering is entering a period of profound reinvention with new opportunities for innovation and productivity gains.
In his closing remarks, he encouraged students to pursue areas aligned with the societal challenges they aim to address, reaffirming civil engineering’s central role in shaping cities and advancing sustainable development. Recalling the words of economist Edward Glaeser, who emphasised that "the greatest invention of humanity is cities," underscoring civil engineering’s responsibility for planning, building, and managing the urban environments of the future.

Listen the complete podcast episode (in Portuguese): PASSA A DOIS