In existence over a hundred years, Escola Politécnica da Universidade de São Paulo - EPUSP or Poli - is one of the most important engineering schools in Brazil and in Latin America. Poli's motto is "Tradition and Modernity", considered basic conditions to face technological challenges both in developing human resources and performing academic as well as applied investigations.
Since its beginning, Escola Politécnica has been contributing new technologies for the community and industries through various projects, both completed and under way. Among these, is the development of the first Brazilian Computer - Patinho Feio (The Ugly Ducking), as well as nonreinforced structural brickwork and a process for obtaining iron and steel through self-reducing pellets. Other examples of Poli's technological development are the protection of "Refinaria Presidente Bernardes" industrial facilities against debris-flow at Serra do Mar; the mathematical modeling of the industrial process of nylon, 6,6 post-policondensation; iron ore and bauxite dewatering using chemicals; satellite positioning and navigation: NAVSTAR/GPS technology; and heat transfer enhancement techniques applied to fin-tube compact heat exchanges.
In addition on all these projects, EPUSP has contributed to the solution of other challenging problems as well as industrial systems operation, such as the design of a passenger maritime transportation system to Petrobrás offshore platforms; a weather radar; alternative technology for the exploration of the hydroelectric resources in the Amazon region, development of integrated hypersystems; integrated system for oil transportation and refining and investigation on new materials, such as polymer blends. All the project developed at EPUSP were supported by industries, state and federal funding agencies for R&D.
From Poli's initiatives, important technological development centers were implemented such as IPT - Instituto de Pesquisas Tecnológicas (Institute of Technological Resources), IEE - Instituto de Eletrotécnica e Energia (institute of Electrotechnics and Energy), CTH - Centro Tecnológico de Hidráulica (Technological Centerin Hydraulics), in mutual cooperation with DAEE, and FAU - Faculdade de Arquitetura e Urbanismo (Architecture and Urbanism College).
Adaptable and ready to face new industrial demands, Escola Politécnica, since its foundation, has been updating its activities both for undergraduate and graduate courses. Poli has also developed important continuing educational programs such as FDTE, now called PECE - Programa de Educação Continuada em Engenharia (Continuing Education Program in Engineering) and Fundação Vanzolini, which aims at engineers updating and specialization.
At present, EPUSP offers courses in the areas of Civil Engineering, Electric Engineering (emphasis on Microelectronics; Telecommunications; Automation and Control; Computer systems; Energy and Power and Electric Automation); Mechanical Engineering (emphasis on Energy and Fluids, Manufacturing Projects and Processes, as well as habilitation in Automation Systems); Chemical Engineering, Materials Engineering and Naval Engineering (emphasis on Engines, Structures, Transportation and Technology).
Towards the end of 80's, Poli established a new model, a co-op program for the Chemical, Production and Computer System Engineering courses. An experimental project was implemented in Cubatão (SP) characterized by tutorial modules (within the school) and practical modules at industries.
At Armando de Salles Oliveira Campus of the Universidade de São Paulo - USP (University of São Paulo), in an area of 136,000m2, Escola Politécnica has graduated more then 17,000 professionals and at present admits 720 undergraduates every year, in the various engineering areas, to be taught by a faculty of 570 highly qualified staff. More than 2,500 MSc and Ph.D. degrees have been granted, making EPUSP one of the most productive institutions within USP, taking its place in the Nation as a leading institution in the generation of know-how technology.
Always investing in the policy of disseminating technology in society, Escola Politécnica has promoted research, building up and modernizing laboratories within the various areas of engineering, aiming at sharing know-how with society.
Thus, establishing technical cooperation agreements with companies and research institutions, aiming at new technologies and improving information interchange, Escola Politécnica is undoubtedly one of the leading Brazilian centers in engineering and technology today.

-Escola Politécnica
- Founded in 1893
- Incorporated to USP in 1934
- 15 Teaching and Research Departments
- Constructed area: 141,500 m2 - 9 buildings / USP: 1,318,000 m2
20,000 m2 - laboratory space
16,500 m2 - classrooms
5,000 m2 - libraries (8 libraries)
- 323 Agreements and contracts with firms

- Human Resources
- 495 professors / USP: 4,705
404 PhD or higher titles
328 full-time
- 500 non-teaching staff / USP: 14,659

- Courses
- Undergraduate courses
10 semester-based courses / USP: 130 courses
3 four-month-based co-op courses
4,524 students / USP: 39,408 students
- Graduate courses
32 courses / USP: 490 courses
16 Master Degree courses
16 Doctorate courses
4,054 students / USP: 26,367 students
1,312 mastering students
827 doctoring students
1,915 special students
- Continued Education
222 courses / USP: 3,516 courses
7,777 students / USP: 71,139 students

- Teaching and Research Departments
- Civil Area
Civil Construction
Structures and Foundations
Hydraulic and Sanitation
Transportation

- Electrical Area
Electrical Energy and Automation
Computer and Digital Systems
Electronic Systems
Telecommunication and Control

- Mechanical Area
Mechanical
Mechatronics and Mechanical Systems
Naval and Ocean
Production

- Chemistry Area
Chemical
Metallurgical and Materials
Mining and Petroleum

- International Relations
- 31 International Agreements
- 27 different countries