On 1 March 2025, during the University of Coimbra (UC) Day celebrations, Carlos Fortuna, retired Full Professor of the UC Faculty of Economics and researcher at the Centre for Social Studies (CES-UC), was honoured with the title of Professor Emeritus of the UC. This venerable distinction was officialised in a public ceremony, with the award of a medal and diploma, recognising his exceptional career in the academic and scientific fields.

Fortuna graduated in Sociology from the University of Évora (1976) and obtained his Master's and Doctorate degrees from the State University of New York (Binghamton) in 1984 and 1989, respectively, following a scholarship from the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation. He was one of the co-founders of CES-UC in 1978, where he carried out research in the areas of Sociology, Cities, Cultures and Architecture.

Throughout his career, Carlos Fortuna has been the coordinator of various Master's and Doctoral programmes at UC and has held prominent positions, such as President of the Scientific Council and President of the Board of Directors of the Faculty of Economics. He has also played important roles in international institutions, such as National Delegate to the European Commission and member of the Board of Directors of the Fulbright Commission.

His contribution to the academic prestige of the institutions to which he has been tied is notable and is also reflected in his work in the areas of Urban and Cultural Studies.