Created in 1979, the Conselho Coordenador dos Institutos Superiores Politécnicos (CCISP – Portuguese Polytechnics Coordinating Council) is the body of joint coordination and representation of public polytechnic higher education establishments. It comprises all public polytechnics (15 in total) and all public non-integrated schools (5 in total).

It is CCISP’s mission, in addition to the co-representation of polytechnic higher education institutes, to collaborate in the creation of national education, science and culture policies, and to issue opinion on all issues having to do with the public polytechnic higher education system, not only in terms of legislation, but also in terms of budget.

Furthermore, the Council also aims to contribute to the development of education, research, and culture in general and to the recognition of polytechnic higher education institutions and their agents, as well as the reinforcement of partnerships with foreign entities. This is why CCISP is a member of several international research, associated with polytechnic higher education, namely, the Universities of Applied Sciences Network (UASNET) and The European Association of Institutions in Higher Education (EURASHE).