Universidade Católica implements project that prepares people with disability and university students for the job market

Universidade Católica Portuguesa in Porto is implementing Peer2Peer, an innovative program that promotes the preparation of people with disabilities and university students for the job market. It aims to create a peer-learning environment that encourages greater self-knowledge of one's own abilities, skills development and motivation for the professional future. Over the course of 11 weeks, participants – university students and people with disabilities – work in pairs in weekly sessions, which include group workshops and One2One sessions. Registrations are now open HERE!

This program was created in 2018 in Lisbon, developed by Nova SBE's Inclusive Community Forum. Seven years later, the project is expanding to the North, in a partnership between Nova SBE – Universidade Nova de Lisboa and Universidade Católica Portuguesa - Porto, through funding from the Parcerias para a Inovação Social program, of the Portugal Social Innovation 2030 mission structure, and the support of Amélia de Mello Foundation and the São Bartolomeu dos Alemães Association in Lisbon.

Peer2Peer in Porto is hosted by ATES – Transversal Area of Social Economy, with the collaboration of Unidade de Desenvolvimento Integral da Pessoa, the Students and Employability Team, the Career Office of Católica Porto Business School and various Academic Units from our University. With this initiative, Universidade Católica reinforces its commitment to inclusion, equity and building a fairer and more accessible society for all.

An innovative approach through a collaborative learning space

Peer2Peer stands out for its innovative approach that creates a collaborative learning space, where all stakeholders benefit. By participating in this program, university students gain essential skills for their integration into the job market, actively contributing to greater inclusion. For young people with disabilities, this experience represents a unique opportunity for training, preparation and a closer connection to the professional environment, promoting empowerment and autonomy. The program focuses on developing key employability skills, such as:

• Self-awareness and goal setting – identifying skills, interests, and professional aspirations;
• Understanding the job market – exploring career opportunities and recruitment strategies;
• Developing application tools – creating a Curriculum Vitae and building a skills profile;
• Preparing for recruitment processes – simulating job interviews with specialists from recruitment and selection companies.

In Lisbon, Peer2Peer has already involved 194 participants (94 people with disabilities and 100 university students) across five higher education institutions. With the support of Portugal Inovação Social, the program aims to grow over the next three years, empowering more than 250 people with disabilities and expanding to other higher education institutions in the North.