Between October 24th and 25th 2024, representatives of UCP4SUCCESS — an initiative to promote academic success and combat university abandonment at the Universidade Católica Portuguesa — participated in the "Innovation and Well-Being for Success" Meeting, promoted by the Directorate-General for Higher Education.

Including moments of networking, presentations, and project discussions in poster format, the event aimed to "bring together pioneering ideas and inspiring pedagogical practices, enabling an enriching dialogue that promotes well-being and the quality of Higher Education," said Cristina Palmeirão, a professor at the Porto Campus of Universidade Católica and a member of the UCP4SUCCESS coordination team.

The meeting brought together various researchers, representatives of national Higher Education institutions, and international speakers, such as Maja Gustafsson (OECD) and Luke Millard (Abertay University), at the University of Coimbra.

Over the two days, innovative and inclusive practices aligned with the three current funding lines were debated: Mental Health, Creation of Centers of Excellence and Pedagogical Innovation, and Promotion of Success and Reduction of Dropout.

With the presence of Fernando Alexandre, Minister of Education, Science, and Innovation, this initiative underlined the crucial role of collaboration among the 79 funded institutions in sharing and discussing best practices and establishing partnerships.

Among the major challenges identified, the importance of ensuring the continuity of these projects was highlighted, with the adoption of strategies based on solid theoretical models, the production of scientific knowledge, and the evaluation of their impact on the quality of Higher Education and the life projects of each student.

UCP4SUCCESS is part of the Innovation and Pedagogical Modernization in Higher Education line - Program for the Promotion of Success and Reduction of Dropout. In this context, the initiative has promoted activities that facilitate a successful transition and adaptation to Higher Education, contributing to academic success.