In view of the restoration of power, we would like to inform you that all activities at Universidade Católica Portuguesa will resume today, 29 April.

The Universidade Católica Portuguesa informs that, due to the nationwide blackout, all academic and administrative activities are suspended on all four campi. During this period, the campi will only operate on a minimum services basis.

We are monitoring the situation and will update you as soon as possible.

The Democracies Summit 2025, organised by the Institute for Political Studies (IEP) of the Universidade Católica Portuguesa, will take place on April 29 at its headquarters in Lisbon and will focus on the theme "Migrations: Challenges and Opportunities".

The event will feature António Vitorino, President of the National Council for Migration and Asylum and former European Commissioner, as keynote speaker at the opening session.

The Summit will bring together secondary school students from all over the country for a dynamic exercise in debate and reflection on migration issues in the context of contemporary democracies. Teachers, diplomatic representatives, experts and guest journalists will also take part, creating an environment conducive to reflection and constructive dialogue.

The topic of migration is of particular relevance today, representing both challenges and opportunities for democratic societies. The Democracies Summit 2025 aims to provide a space where young people can explore the various dimensions of this global phenomenon, promoting a deeper understanding of migration policies, human rights and cultural integration.

During the event, participants will have the opportunity to represent different countries, simulating a large Assembly of Democratic States. This format allows students to debate and negotiate solutions to migration-related issues, developing skills in argumentation, diplomacy and critical thinking.

The Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) has awarded an “Excellent” rating to six research centres at Universidade Católica Portuguesa (UCP), further strengthening the institution’s position within the national scientific landscape.

The centres that received the highest rating were: the Católica Biomedical Research Centre (Faculty of Medicine), the Católica Lisbon Research Unit in Business and Economics (Católica Lisbon School of Business & Economics), the Católica Research Centre for the Future of Law (Faculty of Law), the Centre for Biotechnology and Fine Chemistry (Faculty of Biotechnology), the Research Center for Science and Technology of the Arts (School of Arts), and the Research Centre for Communication and Culture (Faculty of Human Sciences).

These centres were recognised for the quality of their research, the impact of their scientific work, and their significant contribution to the advancement of knowledge in key strategic areas.

According to Peter Hanenberg, Vice-Rector of UCP, “The FCT’s assessment confirms Católica’s ambitious path: to develop research recognised internationally for its excellence and for having a meaningful impact on Portuguese society.”

Other research centres at Universidade Católica also received a “Very Good” rating, namely the Research Centre of the Institute for Political Studies (Instituto de Estudos Políticos) and the Research Center in Management and Economics (Católica Porto Business School).

Altogether, the research centres at Universidade Católica Portuguesa have secured over 20 million euros in funding, including base, programme, and PRR equipment funding. These results further reinforce the University’s commitment to excellent research, with real impact on society and strong international reach.

Students from the Braga, Lisbon and Porto campuses of Universidade Católica Portuguesa will be going on volunteer missions this summer to Spain, Italy and Brazil as part of the FLY programme, the international volunteer programme promoted by the UNIJES universities and the Universidade Católica Portuguesa. To prepare for their volunteering missions, the 11 students from Universidade Católica took part in a training meeting at Casa San José in El Escorial, Spain, attended by 170 university students from all over the world.

The meeting, which took place from 4 to 6 April, was an opportunity for the groups taking part in each project to get to know each other, deepen their understanding of the meaning and functioning of the programme and reflect on the essential elements of any volunteering experience: personal boundaries, a safe environment, and the keys to an attitude of listening, respect, and service. One of the highlights of the meeting was the talk by development and human rights expert Gonzalo Fanjul, who offered an insightful look at the structural causes of poverty and exclusion in the world, opening an in-depth dialogue with the participants.

The organising team, made up of people from all the universities involved, gave a very positive assessment of the atmosphere during these days: "We leave with the hope that these experiences will help students grow as people who are aware, committed and open to the world," they said.

Fly is an initiative that offers university students the chance to experience volunteering with people in vulnerable situations. The projects are carried out both in Spain and Portugal (in social work with people at risk of exclusion, young people, migrants...), and in other international contexts: Melilla, Tangier, El Aaiún, Honduras, Guatemala, Nepal, Kenya and Brazil.

In this training meeting, through various dynamics, moments of reflection and socialising, the students were able to strengthen the trust between them and the team spirit that will be fundamental in each destination.

On Tuesday 22 April, Universidade Católica Portuguesa and Santa Casa da Misericórdia de Lisboa signed a collaboration protocol for practical and tutorial teaching activities and curricular clinical rotations/internships/teaching by students and trainees from the Academic Health Units.

The protocol also provides for collaboration in the supervision of studies or academic work, as well as research projects developed by Católica, taking place on the premises of Misericórdia de Lisboa.

The Santa Casa will also have the possibility of receiving students and/or interns from Universidade Católica's Academic Health Units, as well as participating in research projects.

The signing of the agreement was attended by Isabel Capeloa Gil, President of Universidade Católica Portuguesa, António Almeida, Dean of Católica Medical School, Paulo Sousa, Provider of Santa Casa, and André Brandão de Almeida, administrator of Misericórdia de Lisboa with responsibility for the Health Department.

'A happy day', in the words of the President of the Universidade Católica, who emphasised the common mission that unites the two institutions. Paulo Sousa also emphasised the ‘commitment’ of the Holy House in this protocol, adding that it was ‘a privilege’ to join an institution ‘with enormous prestige’.