In this "Testimonials" we interview André Duarte, winner of a SPARK award.

Tell us a bit about yourself and your journey at IST.

I am 24 years old, and my journey at IST has been somewhat unconventional. Although I am now focused on Computer Science and Engineering, both my bachelor’s and master’s degrees were in different fields.  

I began by pursuing a bachelor’s in Electrical and Computer Engineering, a very comprehensive program, but one that, personally, did not fascinate me. As a result, for my master’s, I chose Data Science and Engineering, a recently introduced program (just one year old at the time) that appealed to me due to its flexibility. It allowed me to explore subjects in Electrical and Computer Engineering, Computer Science and Engineering, and Mathematics—something I found exciting. It was a change I certainly do not regret making.  

During my dissertation, I had my first in-depth contact with the field of Artificial Intelligence. Under the guidance of Professor Arlindo Oliveira, I worked on a real project for CTT related to postal address matching. Following the project's success, I was invited to join INESC-ID as a researcher for a year. Later, an opportunity arose to become a Visiting Student at Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) for two months. That experience motivated me to pursue a Ph.D.  

Currently, I am enrolled in the Dual Degree CMU Portugal program (Computer Science and Engineering / Ph.D. in Language Technologies), and I am about to finish my first year.

What did winning this award personally mean to you?

Winning an award is always a special experience, and this one, being my first in the academic field, feels even more meaningful. It was a great way to wrap up the DE-COP project.

Why are awards like this important?

I believe that awards and competitions play two fundamental roles: on one hand, they encourage the production of higher-quality work; on the other hand, they promote the development of important skills, such as communicating science to non-technical audiences—something I feel is not practiced often enough.

In your opinion (aside from awards ;) ), what can and should be done to attract more students to Computer Science and Engineering at Técnico?

Although Computer Science and Engineering at Técnico is already highly sought after, I believe that constantly updating the course units is crucial to continue attracting talent. In rapidly evolving fields like Artificial Intelligence, it is essential for the curriculum to reflect the latest developments and stay aligned with global trends. Offering a strong and innovative selection of course units can be a significant draw for prospective students.

Do you have any advice for future students of Computer Science and Engineering at Técnico?

A piece of advice I’ve learned over time (perhaps a popular saying or something my grandfather used to say) is that "luck goes hand in hand with hard work." I believe that effort and constant dedication eventually open the paths we seek. Whether it’s to win awards, land a particular job, or achieve any other goal, the key is to work with commitment and, whenever possible, find joy in what you do.