Shaping the Future of Civil Engineering: Carlos Oliveira Cruz on Research, Industry and Academic Transformation – Interview on “Passa a Dois”

The Professor Carlos Oliveira Cruz highlighted that Portuguese civil engineering is currently experiencing a strong recovery and growing international recognition, particularly through the research developed at the Instituto Superior Técnico. In an interview on the Passa a Dois podcast with Jaime Quintas, he noted that the institution ranks third in Europe in civil engineering research according to the Shanghai Ranking, behind only Delft University and Imperial College London.

He explained that Portuguese universities have shifted over recent decades from a model focused mainly on teaching to one strongly driven by scientific research, significantly boosting the international reputation of engineering education in Portugal. He also emphasized that the system now competes with leading global institutions despite operating with substantially smaller budgets.

The professor distinguished between research and innovation: research converts funding into knowledge, while innovation transforms that knowledge into economic and social value through collaboration with industry. In this context, he argued for a closer relationship between universities and companies, including doctoral research developed in partnership with the private sector.

During the interview, he also stressed the importance of improving how civil engineering is communicated to younger generations. Although the degree lost attractiveness during the financial crisis years, he noted that demand and entrance grades are now rising again.

He further argued that universities must prepare students for a rapidly evolving technological environment. Rather than focusing on specific tools, he emphasized the importance of developing core skills such as critical thinking, problem-solving, and adaptability. "The Técnico teaches you how to think," he stated, highlighting that software tools change quickly, but analytical capacity remains essential.

Carlos Oliveira Cruz also pointed to the increasing need for interdisciplinary collaboration in engineering and construction, bringing together fields such as civil engineering, architecture, economics, law and technology. According to him, today’s major challenges — from housing to climate change — require integrated, cross-disciplinary approaches.

He highlighted the transformative potential of artificial intelligence, robotics, drones, and BIM in the construction sector, arguing that civil engineering must "regain its sex appeal" among younger generations. In his view, the field now offers significant opportunities for innovation and productivity gains.

In the closing remarks, he encouraged students to choose areas aligned with the problems they want to solve and emphasized that civil engineering is undergoing a profound reinvention. Quoting economist Edward Glaeser, he recalled that "the greatest invention of humanity is cities," stressing the central role of civil engineering in shaping and managing urban development.

 

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