New leadership cycles at the Universidade Catolica's FFCS and FEP faculties

On 28 September, the Universidade Católica Portuguesa (UCP), meeting in Braga, witnessed important moments, with the inauguration of new leaders in the Faculty of Philosophy and Social Sciences (FFCS) and the reappointment of the director of the Faculty of Education and Psychology (FEP).

At the FFCS in Braga, teacher and father Bruno Nobre has taken over as Director, where he will lead a team made up of lecturers Paulo Dias, João Amadeu, Berta Maia, Catarina Vieira da Silva and Simone Petrella.

The new board was sworn in by the President of UCP, Isabel Capeloa Gil, at a ceremony held in the Aula Magna Fr António Freire sj, which was attended by invited civil and religious authorities such as the Archbishop of Braga and Primate of Spain, José Cordeiro.

In his speech, Fr Bruno Nobre emphasised the importance of defining a strategy for the Faculty, which ‘must involve the entire academic community’. He also expressed his desire to ‘nurture and deepen the Jesuit identity of the FFCS’, recognising that this ‘is perhaps the most valuable thing the Faculty has to offer both to the UCP and to the Church and Portuguese society’.

The newly appointed Director also left a word of thanks to his predecessor, Fr José Lopes, recalling his ‘extraordinary dedication, humility, selflessness and sense of justice’ throughout his term of office.

At the Porto campus, Raquel Matos was reappointed for a new three-year term at the head of the FEP. During her speech, she thanked the President for the renewed vote of confidence and emphasised the privilege of continuing to lead the faculty. ‘To be part of the university, as a teacher, researcher, collaborator or student, is to transform it; to take on a management position is to have an opportunity that raises this transformative potential’, she said.

She also outlined the strategic objectives for the next three years, with a focus on promoting mental health and increasing student participation in university processes. Raquel Matos also highlighted the consolidation of the Research Centre for Human Development (CEDH) and the impact of the Católica Learning Innovation Lab (CLIL) as a driving force for pedagogical innovation on UCP's four campuses.

Both ceremonies took place as part of the VI Meeting of Católica Research (CARE), dedicated to promoting attractive and responsible scientific careers.