Técnico Alumni is a platform that allows former students of Instituto Superior Técnico to reconnect, relive, and reminisce their time at Técnico through access to a network of contacts with other Alumni. It is within the context of this platform’s activities that this interview with Sandra Costa, a former student of DEI (Department of Computer Science and Engineering), originally took place, and is now being republished in full.  

To learn more about Técnico Alumni and join the network, click HERE.

—

Sandra Costa graduated in Computer Science and Engineering in 1994. She has been Secretary-General and President of the Administrative Council of the Azores Parliament since 2006, served as Secretary-General of the Conference of European Regional Legislative Assemblies (CALRE) in 2018, was a member of CALRE’s e-Democracy group for 13 years, was City Councillor for the Municipality of Horta with responsibility for Administrative Organization and Modernization from 2001 to 2005, Head of the IT Division of the Regional Secretariat for Agriculture and Fishing of the Azorean Regional Government for 8 years, and external consultant for APTO – Port Administration of the Triangle and Central Group, S.A. for 4 years.

• Why Técnico?

Because it was a well-known school and it was (and still is!) a source of pride. A degree in Engineering from Técnico is a guarantee of good professional opportunities.

• What stands out most from your time at Técnico, in class or beyond?

I can’t separate the two, both were excellent! Perhaps because the environment in LEIC (the Computer Science and Engineering degree) was incredible, we were the first class of the LEIC degree, and the vibe among classmates and with professors was amazing. There was a strong sense of mutual support and a collective desire for everything to go well and for the new Computer Science and Engineering degree to become a benchmark of excellence. This was clear not only from the professors but especially from our “patrons” (José Tribolet, João Pavão Martins, Amílcar Sernadas, Pedro Veiga, José Alves Marques). Today I understand better why: they also had a lot at stake, having strongly advocated for the creation of LEIC and the Computer Science and Engineering Department at Técnico. I think the results exceeded expectations. They had very innovative ideas and approaches and we benefited greatly from that.

• What was the best part of your course? And the most challenging?

The best part was undoubtedly how hands-on it was. We had a heavy load of coursework and projects, but that gave us real preparation for the working world and helped us build adaptability and resilience in the face of any project or setback. The most challenging part was definitely the final-year project, in the 5th year. It was 1993 and the internet was barely a thing, and I had to implement a fuzzy logic-based model to analyze images from a water bottle filling line and determine whether bottles were properly filled and should be accepted or rejected. That sounds trivial today, but back then it wasn’t. Computer vision was still in its infancy, and there was no GitHub or similar resources. We had to hunt down papers, books (which were also scarce) and figure things out by ourselves on how to implement and fine-tune the model so it could be “smart” and effective.

• Were you involved in any extracurricular activities?

During the last three years of the program, I did internships at INESC and ITEC. The first on an Intel bitbus network project, the second in computer vision. I was part of a group of LEIC students who taught IT classes in RUMOS and FUNDETEC, mostly to raise money for our graduation trip. Since my first year, I was also hooked on doing aerobics and step classes, and I was lucky that there was a gym called KeepFit just behind Técnico that opened at 7:30 a.m., which made it easier to juggle class schedules and projects (of which there were always many!).

• Was there anyone at Técnico who particularly inspired you?

Definitely the “patrons” I mentioned earlier! Each in their own way left a mark on what I know and who I am today. They were inspiring not only because of what they knew but also because of how they motivated us and made us feel different. Today, with the benefit of hindsight and life experience, I realize they were true leaders who pushed us to reach our best. I’d also highlight Professor Cristina Sernadas and, back then still an assistant, Professor Sofia Pinto. I remember them not just for what they taught but also because in five years, there were so few women teaching us (I don’t recall any others…) and that alone was admirable and inspiring for a young aspiring female engineer.

• What’s your best memory from Técnico?

The graduation trip! Fifteen days in Venezuela with a fantastic group of over 60 classmates. We were, and still are, a tight-knit group of colleagues and friends.

• What’s your favorite place at Técnico and why?

It might sound like “masochism,” but I’d say the basement of CIIST, and later the LEIC building basement. Because I always remember, despite the intensity of the projects and the countless hours and all-nighters around the computer, the incredible camaraderie and teamwork among classmates — even those not in your group. And the cherry on top: the joy and satisfaction when things worked, when a problem was solved or a project finally completed!

• Can you tell us a bit about the start of your professional journey?

It was very different from what I had envisioned! When I was about to graduate and already planning to start working in Lisbon, my mother became seriously ill. A job opportunity came up on Faial Island, in the Azores, where she lived and where I was born, and I decided to take it, thinking I might not be away from Lisbon for long. Working in the public sector was the opposite of what I had imagined. Everything was rigid and predictable from a technical career perspective, and the pay was low (still is!). I started as the head of IT at the Regional Secretariat for Agriculture and Fishing of the Azorean Government, which was a big challenge for a 23-year-old fresh graduate. To my surprise, I loved it! It was a real challenge to lead IT in a government department with nearly 1000 employees spread across 9 islands and nearly 30 buildings. I got to apply much of what I’d learned over the previous five years, but more importantly, I realized I had learned how to learn and solve problems with confidence and those were the most valuable tools I had at the time.

• What was the toughest decision you’ve had to make?

There were two, very much connected. Moving to the Azores and joining the public sector after finishing LEIC in 1994. A few years later, when I had the opportunity to leave public service, I chose the quality of life in the Azores over a private-sector career. Today things might’ve been different, with remote work.

• What have been the biggest challenges in your career?

Staying up to date in both management and technical fields has always been a top priority. I’ve invested heavily in continuing education, not just to support my work in public administration management but also to ensure I maintain updated technical skills, just in case I ever want or need to return to a technical role. Unfortunately, management in public administration is still not a formal career track, so taking on leadership roles isn’t solely a personal choice. Luckily, my technical focus areas, likely due to my training and the geographical dispersion I’ve always worked with, have been networks and systems supporting remote work. So I’ve been able to specialize in those fields fairly easily. More recently, tired of technical training and wanting to leverage my experience in the legal aspects of public service, especially in parliament, I decided to shift gears and enroll in a postgrad in Digital Law. It’s definitely outside my comfort zone, but it’s been challenging in a good way! Surprisingly, it’s also been fascinating and rewarding. Having technical knowledge (e.g., cybersecurity, digital identity, cryptography, blockchain, decentralized finance, AI, databases, etc.) really helps when trying to understand (and sometimes critique!) national and EU legislation and regulations. It’s also been a crash course in “legalese,” and I’ve come to see that engineering and law increasingly need to be “in a relationship” and “walk hand in hand” in this complex regulatory environment in Europe and in the bold new digital world ahead.

(image: Sandra Costa)