As provided in Article 172 of Law 62/2007, of 10 September (RJIES), a public foundation governed by private law named University of Porto was established and the Statutes of the University of Porto were approved by the Statutory Assembly of the University of Porto, held on 22 December 2008, approved by the Minister of Science, Technology and Higher Education on 30 April 2009, and published in the Official Journal No. 93, 2^nd Series, 14 May 2009.

The General Board of University of Porto, at its meeting on November 22 2013, unanimously approved the start of the review process of the Statutes of the University of Porto, in accordance with Article 4, suspending the entry in force of the Organic Regulation published in the Official Journal No. 18, 2^nd series, January 25 2013.

By resolution at its meeting on 26 and 27 June 2014, the General Board approved the review. It was homologated the Review of the U.Porto Statutes by the normative Dispatch No. 8/2015 on 18 May 2015, published in the Official Journal No. 100, 2^nd series, May 25 2015.

Duties

The duties of the University of Porto are, inter alia, the following:
1. Global training - cultural, scientific, technical, artistic, civic and ethical – as part of the diverse processes of teaching and learning, aiming for the development of specific and transferrable skills and competences, and the dissemination of knowledge;
2. Scientific research and cultural and artistic development, involving the discovery, acquisition and development of knowledge and practices at advanced level;
3. The social value of knowledge and its transfer to economic and social agents, as drivers of innovation and change;
4. Encouraging an observing mind, objective analysis, critical judgement and an attitude of questioning and assessing the scientific, cultural, artistic and social activity;
5. The preservation and dissemination of scientific, cultural and artistic heritage for the creative use of experts and the public;
6. Cooperation, from a mutual standpoint, with various institutions, groups and other agents, through applied research and service provision to the community;
7. Cultural, scientific, artistic and technical exchange with national and foreign institutions;
8. The contribution, in its field of activity, to international cooperation and bridging the gap between people.
The University of Porto awards undergraduate, masters and PhD degrees and the title of aggregate, as well as other certificates and diplomas in the field of its schools, and also confers equivalences and recognizes degrees and academic qualifications, as defined in the law.
The University of Porto confers the honorary title of Doctor Honoris Causa, as defined in the law and these statutes.

Values

The University of Porto provides the conditions for the exercise of freedom of scientific, cultural, artistic and technological creativity, ensures plurality and free expression of opinions and guidelines, and promotes the participation of all university bodies in the university academic life;
The University of Porto’s activity complies with high ethical standards;
The University of Porto fosters accuracy, transparency and quality, and is particularly concerned with the recognition of merit;
The University of Porto ensures equal access and treatment, irrespective of gender and social, political, ethnic or religious issues;
The University of Porto is committed to, in accordance to the law, eliminate all factors that are disadvantages to living within the university for citizens with disabilities;
The University of Porto is concerned with the self-fulfilment of all those that are part of it;
The University of Porto fosters innovation, providing a stimulating environment for creativity and an entrepreneurial attitude of its members;
The University of Porto strives for a balanced environmental, economic and social development.

Legal nature and participation in other organizations

The University of Porto is a private foundation under private law, with statutory, pedagogical, scientific, cultural, administrative, financial, assets and disciplinary autonomy.

As part of its activities, the University of Porto can perform activities common with other public, private, cooperative, national and international entities.

The University may create or participate in profit-oriented or non-profit associations or societies, provided that their activities are compatible with its mission.

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