UC is part of the Centre for World University Ranking of the best 500 universities in the world. Furthermore, UC is classified as a 5-stars top university by the QS Stars University Ratings and has scored excellent in several U-Multirank indicators, namely in the areas of research, knowledge transfer and internationalization. In line with its core mission of educating and producing knowledge, UC takes a firm stand in the implementation of policies aiming at sustainable economic and social development, acting as a leading specialised community service provider and a major entrepreneurship booster in the city, in the region and in Portugal.