ISAL, as an institution of Higher Studies, initiated its activity in Madeira Autonomous Region – the Pearl of the Atlantic- in 1984. This year it commemorates its 30 years of existence. In the beginning, ISAL developed several Higher Studies which granted a bacharel degree in Management and Tourism Areas. In order to accomplish further goals, ISAL acquired new facilities which allowed the adequate development of new actions within the area of Higher Studies. These new facilities were inaugurated in 2004 and they represent the first phase of the investment. ISAL is a non integrated Private Polytechnic establishment of Higher Studies. Its genesis dates back to 1971, a period when other institutions of Teaching and Professional Studies were created in Lisbon and which developed synergies that were determinant for the organization and functioning of ISAL in Madeira. In 1984, the Regional Secretary of Education of the Autonomous Region of Madeira granted the needed permission for this Institute to function. This way, the very first private institution of pos-secondary studies was born in the Region.