Full Professor, Portucalense University, Portugal
Prof. Isabel Vaz de Freitas is a distinguished Full Professor at Portucalense University 🇵🇹, with a PhD in History and a deep-rooted academic journey in heritage, culture, and tourism. She leads the Department of Tourism, Heritage, and Culture and coordinates various undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral programs. An active researcher with REMIT and CIAUD-UPT, she also collaborates with projects in Portugal and Spain. Her work spans landscape, territorial development, medieval studies, and cross-border cultural dynamics, making her a prominent voice in European heritage academia 🌍📚.
Profile
Scopus
🎓 Education
Prof. Freitas has an impressive academic trajectory, starting with a Bachelor’s degree from Universidade Portucalense in 1988 🎓, a Master’s from the University of Porto in 1993 📖, a PhD from Portucalense University in 2001 🧠, and achieving Aggregation from the University of Porto in 2016 🏛️. Her scholarly foundations support her prolific contributions to cultural and historical research.
💼 Professional Experience
With over three decades of academic service, Prof. Freitas has held roles from Guest Assistant Professor to Full Professor at Portucalense University (1991–present) 👩🏫. She has served as Head of Department since 2006 and has been actively involved in directing and coordinating heritage restoration and tourism initiatives. Her cross-border collaborations and project leadership have significantly advanced cultural studies in Portugal and Spain 🇵🇹🇪🇸.
🔬 Research Interest
Her research interests encompass medieval history, heritage preservation, landscape and water landscape analysis 💧🏞️, border studies, and peninsular cultural relations. Prof. Freitas emphasizes interdisciplinary and territorial valorization studies, contributing richly to projects addressing creative tourism, medieval fortifications, and sustainable development 🔍📜.
🏆 Awards and Honors
Prof. Freitas is a Correspondent Member of the Portuguese Academy of History 🇵🇹🏅 and has served on numerous scientific committees across Europe. She received funding from FCT Portugal and was honored by city councils and research institutions for her cultural promotion efforts. Her distinction as a leader in heritage research is reinforced by national and international accolades and academic appointments.
📚 Publications
“The Border and Water Landscape in the Iberian Peninsula” (2021), Journal of Heritage Studies – Link – Cited by 15 articles 📄
“Territory, Memory and Identity in Northern Portugal” (2019), Cultural Geography Review – Link – Cited by 20 articles 🗺️
“The Role of Heritage in Cross-border Cooperation” (2017), International Journal of Heritage and Sustainable Development – Link – Cited by 12 articles 🤝
“Medieval Tourism and Valorization of Historic Centers” (2015), Tourism and Culture Journal – Link – Cited by 9 articles 🏰
🏁 Conclusion
Prof. Dr. Isabel Vaz de Freitas is highly suitable for the Best Researcher Award. Her academic excellence, multidisciplinary and applied research in heritage and tourism, international engagement, and leadership in EU-funded projects position her as a leading figure in the Humanities and Social Sciences research landscape. While minor areas for broader outreach and metric-based validation exist, her overall contribution is both significant and impactful.