Hugo

I have a Bachelor's Degree in Political Science in ISCSP, the top institute regarding political and international relations teaching in the University of Lisbon. I was top graduate in my course. Since my grade gave me automatic access to the PhD without a Masters graduation, which is the normal path in Portugal, I decided to complement my political background with a post-graduation in Governance and Strategic Intelligence. Again, I was top student in the course. I've started my PhD in Political Science the next year and I've completed the coursework with an average grade of 17 (in 20). After that I was licensed to teach under-graduate students, which I never did because I was already working. I tutored some students informally. My thesis project, named «The Political Paradox of Freedom», was approved by ISCSP's Scientific Council and José Adelino Maltez, by then dean of Lisbon University, was appointed my thesis advisor. I was forced to suspend my PhD by personal and economical reasons as I was writing my thesis and I haven't had the chance to resume my studies since.

I follow Alain's principle in teaching: «To teach is to let learn.» Interest and curiosity are the seeds of learning, and my first goal is to know what the student cares for. Politics and Political Science are a wide range field of knowledge and both holistic or specific approaches are possible. That will be the purpose of the first class: to talk about what the student is really looking for and may even doesn't know yet. Consequent classes will be planned according to that. The more we learn the more we don't know. That's something any post-graduate student can easily attest. In college we learn how to learn. A teacher's role, furthermore a tutor's, is to help his tutored know what can be learned and where to find it. I add a single test to all the knowledge the student acquires: can it be falsified? That is, as Thomas Khun would tell you, all that matters.