ISAL History

ISAL started its activity as a Higher Education Institution in the Autonomous Region of Madeira, the pearl of the Atlantic, in 1989 and was a pioneer, at a private level, in the approval of higher education courses in Tourism and Tourism Organisation and Management, in Portugal.

ISAL obtains the approval of the higher education course in Business Management.

To achieve the goals it set, ISAL acquired new facilities conducive to the proper development of higher education actions, whose inauguration took place in 2004. As this is not a static process, during the following years, these facilities were improved and expanded.

ISAL obtains the approval of the higher education course in Accounting and Finance.

The year 2005 was a landmark year, not only for ISAL but also for Madeira itself. ISAL receives authorisation to operate its first undergraduate course. For the first time in the Autonomous Region of Madeira, an Undergraduate Course in Tourism is created.

In 2006, ISAL began a new adventure, the Postgraduate Courses, always aiming to respond to the region’s needs.

The transition of all ISAL’s higher education courses from a Bachelor’s degree to an undergraduate course was approved.

Creation of ISAL Research Group.

Acquisition of the Erasmus Charter for Higher Education (ECHE) by the European Commission.

DGES authorisation for the Higher Professional Technical Courses (TeSP).

Implementation of the Scientific Research Laboratory

Implementation of ISAL’s Internal Quality Assurance System.

Creation of ISAL Research Centre