Professor António Rendas, former Rector of Universidade NOVA de Lisboa (NOVA University of Lisbon), was awarded the insignia of the Grã-Cruz da Ordem da Instrução Pública by the President of the Portuguese Republic, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa. This distinction is conferred for services to the cause of education and teaching.
The President justified the award as a celebration of the Professor's dedication to a national cause. António Rendas was the Rector of Universidade NOVA de Lisboa for 10 years, between 2007 and 2017, and President of the Council of Rectors of Portuguese Universities between 2010 and 2014. At NOVA he was also the Director of Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical (NOVA Institute of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine) and NOVA Medical School|Faculdade de Ciências Médicas. He also performed other high level functions at a national and international level, being recently reelected for the Steering Committee of UNICA – Network of Universities from the Capitals of Europe.
The distinction was conferred at the end of the VIII Annual Conference of Health Cluster Portugal, that took place on November 21 at the Rectorate of NOVA. In this conference the President of the Republic also defended the creation of a "health pact" in Portugal that accommodates the private sector and clarifies roles.