Institutions providing limited amenities and ceasing educational sessions
In the wake of an unexpected power outage that struck several cities across Portugal at around 11:30 AM today, universities are now running on a skeleton crew, according to the prezzo of the Council of Rectors of Portuguese Universities (CRUP).
As per statements from Paulo Jorge Ferreira, the president of CRUP and also the rector of the University of Aveiro, the primary concern is about maintaining both cyber and physical security, with electric doors in place to secure facilities.
The Faculty of Social and Human Sciences at the NOVA University of Lisbon has suspended academic activities from 2:00 PM, keeping their campus open for the safety of the academic community.
However, the Ministry of Education, Science, and Innovation is still gathering information on the impact in schools throughout the country.
Redes Energéticas Nacionais (REN) has confirmed a widespread power outage affecting the entire Iberian Peninsula and parts of French territory. They're actively implementing the staged restoration of energy supply, with an estimated 6–10 hours for service restoration, similar to the timeline provided by Spanish power distributor Red Eléctrica.
Amidst this chaos, it appears that NAV (a likely Portuguese institution) and educational authorities haven't disclosed specific measures to combat this outage. However, the following details may provide some context:
- Spanish power distributor Red Eléctrica estimated a 6–10-hour restoration period, highlighting the unusual nature of this blackout.
- Portugal’s National Cybersecurity Center confirmed there was no evidence of a cyberattack behind the outage.
- Both Portuguese and Spanish authorities encouraged the public to prioritize essential emergency calls to keep communication lines operational.
The blackout has undeniably disrupted critical infrastructure like traffic lights, ATMs, and phone lines, potentially causing transportation and communication issues for students and staff. Public services such as subway networks and other transit systems have also halted, potentially limiting campus access.
During times like these, educational institutions might adhere to standard contingency plans, such as postponing classes or relying on backup generators where available. Nevertheless, there's a lack of official statements from Portuguese universities or NAV regarding their specific response to the outage. Consulting individual institutions for localized measures may provide more accurate information.
- The National Cybersecurity Center of Portugal, in response to the recent power outage, has confirmed that there is no evidence of a cyberattack as the cause.
- Despite the widespread power outage affecting parts of French territory, specific measures to combat this issue from French institutions have not been disclosed, according to the available information.
- Universities in Lisbon, such as the NOVA University of Lisbon, have suspended academic activities, keeping their campus open for safety, while there is a lack of official statements from Portuguese universities or NAV regarding their response to the outage.
- In the midst of the power outage disruptions to critical infrastructure like traffic lights, ATMs, and phone lines, educational institutions may need to rely on standard contingency plans, like postponing classes or using backup generators where available, but official statements regarding these measures from Portuguese universities or NAV are still pending.
