ESELx - Lisbon School of Education was founded in 1979 and, upon nomination by the induction committee, was incorporated into IPL- Politécnico de Lisboa in 1985. Despite its young age, its origins reveal a proud history and a pedagogical tradition inherited from two training institutes for teachers and educators: Lisbon School of Primary Teacher Education (Escola do Magistério Primário de Lisboa) and the António Aurélio da Costa Ferreira Institute.

ESELx is dedicated to teaching, research and community service in the areas of education and social and cultural involvement. It works in collaboration with national and foreign entities that have similar educational projects. Furthermore, with regard to community interaction, a significant number of training initiatives for teachers and educators are in progress to follow up on requests made by various institutions. Its pedagogical culture is guided by the dictates of participation, critical reflection, lifelong training and teamwork.

ESELx promotes the creation and consolidation of ties among education, community and human development.

Lisbon School of Education has fostered a flexible, evolving educational approach, with a diversity of learning options as one of its core features. Although its original and fundamental mission is teacher training, it has come to offer other kinds of instruction designed for different segments of the labor market that have different output profiles. These include instruction in sociocultural animation, visual arts and technology, artistic and cultural mediation and community music.

ESELx possesses a highly qualified teaching staff composed of PhD professors and specialists who are recognized in the academic and professional fields.