“When you build a thing, you cannot merely build it in isolation, but must also repair the world around it, and within it, so that the larger world at that one place becomes more coherent, and more whole, and the thing which you make takes its place in the web of nature, as you make it.” 

Alexander et al., 1977, p.xiii

Although situated in Covilhã, when it was created the University of Beira Interior  was intended to serve The Beira Interior, to strengthen the region and to maintain the drive for innovation in the region, its “web of nature”. In recent decades it seems that UBI is having trouble with leading its role and perhaps even catching up. Rapid modernisation in western culture and further industrial revolutions (we are now in the fourth revolution) had broken some aspects of the connectivity that UBI had with its intended web of nature.  Could it be that UBI has been isolating itself in Covilhã rather than extending its influence from Covilhã.

Connectivity is only a bit  about technology. The much politicized G5 technology has been hailed as a stepping stone for innovation; However, one should remember that it is a volatile tool and innovation will only come if one will know how to use it and apply it perhaps more tactically than excessively*. Regardless of the expectations, G5 is not going to repair the connectivity between UBI and Beira Interior, if all it does is to reinforce the physical isolation of the institute. 

Connectivity is a lot about accessibility. The university does need a bus line to Fundão, it does need a bus line even to Covilhã’s train station because the facilitation of easy access for the communities that go through and around –  that use –  the University is what gives this one place its context and eventual meaning. If the university wants to resume its role as a leader it should also consider setting up outreach centers in other cities of Beira Interior, like  Fundão, and collaborate more with regional development organizations, like ADXTUR (Aldeias do Xisto) with research projects and programs. If the university wants to resume its role as an innovator it must build stronger connections with national and international innovation centers and develop collaborations and programs that bring “brains”to the region and counter the “brain drain” and desertification that plague the socio-economic fabric of beira interior.  

UBI should reach out to its region of Beira interior, in order to repair the world around it and within it ”so that the larger world at that one place” in Beira Interior, “becomes more coherent, and more whole” and the university can re take its place in the web of nature that surrounds it.

Covilhã, 13 de novembro de 2020