On April 10, the School of Arts welcomes João Grilo for the Dashed Concert of the month.

João Grilo (Porto, 1993) is a sound artist, performer, composer, poet and lyricist. Drawn to the absurd and the wondrous, he works across music, language and the body. He regularly performs as an improviser and creator, is a member of the band Tigre, and has published two books of poetry.

He currently focuses on the projects Frestão and ivu’kar, where poetry, music, performance and movement intersect to explore the invisible, laughter, tears, and collective biography.

Ivu’kar is a fictional documentary that João Grilo is creating with his mother, exploring their relationship with the invisible. Together with a team of real and imaginary figures — Santiago, Quico, Inês, Mafalda, Zé, Gracinda, the bird, the line and the sphere — the project becomes a catalogue of affections, a map, a language and a ritual.

This presentation is just the beginning. Ivu’kar will premiere in October, but before that, João wants to share the creative process behind it: unfinished ideas, moments in the making, and, of course, good conversation.

The performance will take place in the Blackbox at the Ilídio Pinho Auditorium, at 18:30.

In a partnership between Psychology and Management, students from five countries took part in a Blended Intensive Programme (BIP) – an innovative and intensive programme that combines online and face-to-face learning, offering students a rich international experience without the need for extended travel.

The Faculty of Education and Psychology at the Universidade Católica Portuguesa (FEP-UCP) and the Católica Porto Business School provided a unique international academic experience by organising a Blended Intensive Programme (BIP).

Over the course of a week, students from various nationalities and partner universities, alongside UCP students, came together at Católica in Porto for an intensive course marked by interdisciplinary learning and networking.

Under the theme "Innovation Beyond Boundaries: Crafting Education and a Talented Workforce in an Era of Change", this edition brought together students from five countries in a collaboration between Psychology and Management, focusing on the intersection of artificial intelligence, mental health, and empathetic leadership.

 

An intense week of workshops, lectures, and field visits in Porto

Prior to the in-person sessions, students had access to preparatory materials and took part in an online opening session. The in-person experience at Universidade Católica in Porto took place from 24 to 28 March 2025, with a diverse programme featuring interactive workshops and expert-led lectures. Topics included the role of research in organisational transformation, the power of education in empowering future professionals, diversity and inclusion in organisational settings, sustainable communication, decision-making and empathetic leadership, artificial intelligence in the workplace, and mental health at work.

In addition to the academic activities, students visited key institutions such as the Lionesa Business Hub, Estádio do Dragão, and Hospital de São João, offering them practical, real-world insight into the programme’s topics. Alongside academic rigour, the initiative also featured cultural and social moments, encouraging connections among students.

 

A meeting of cultures and ideas

This edition of the BIP welcomed 48 participants in total, including 36 international students from partner universities in Spain, Lithuania, Romania, and Poland, as well as 12 students from UCP (enrolled in the Master’s in Psychology and Human Resources Development at FEP-UCP and the Master’s in Management with a specialisation in Human Resources Management at CPBS).

According to Filipa Sobral (FEP-UCP) and Eva Dias de Oliveira (CPBS), lecturers and members of the course’s organising committee, this diversity enriched the discussions and fostered a valuable exchange of ideas. “Interaction among students from different backgrounds promotes key intercultural skills, such as adapting to new realities, effective communication in multicultural settings, and international collaborative work,” they emphasised.

 

A week that left a lasting impact

The impact of the BIP is reflected in the words of its participants. João Mury, a CPBS student and participant, described the week as “transformative in many ways,” highlighting the opportunity to exchange experiences and ideas on the contemporary challenges of education and the future of work. “Engaging with international professors and peers further enriched the experience. Beyond exchanging perspectives, we also formed truly meaningful friendships,” he said.

Mariana Santos Almeida, a FEP-UCP student, echoed this sentiment, calling it a “remarkable experience that uniquely blended academic growth and cultural exchange. Through workshops, visits, and lectures, I was able to reflect on current challenges in academia and the international job market.” For her, the experience reinforced the importance of international collaboration in both personal and academic development, leaving her even more motivated for future projects abroad.

Coming from Lithuania, Tomas Milius expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to get to know Universidade Católica and meet amazing people. “The professors were very welcoming and friendly. They created an environment that made me feel at home. Also, I learned new things that will be useful in my future career. I’m very thankful for this opportunity!” he shared.

The choice of Universidade Católica Portuguesa in Porto as host for the BIP reinforces its role in organising innovative and interdisciplinary programmes. “UCP stands out for its commitment to academic excellence and internationalisation, and Porto, as a cosmopolitan and dynamic city, offers the perfect setting for reflecting on the themes explored in the course,” said Filipa Sobral.

“The success of this edition is due to the dedication of the organising team, the commitment of the lecturers, and the enthusiasm of the students. We thank all participants and look forward to strengthening this initiative in future editions!”, concluded the lecturers from FEP-UCP and CPBS.

The BIP organising committee also included Patrícia Oliveira-Silva (FEP-UCP) and Diogo Costa, a researcher at the Research Centre for Human Development (CEDH).

 

What is the BIP?

The Blended Intensive Programme (BIP) is an Erasmus+ initiative that brings together at least three higher education institutions to develop a short, multidisciplinary, international course focused on innovative teaching and learning strategies.

With a hybrid format combining online and face-to-face components, it offers students an international experience without the need for prolonged travel. Its interdisciplinary approach and strong practical component make this programme key to developing skills in innovation, collaboration, and adaptability in multicultural contexts.

In April, the Biblioteca do Paraíso, Porto Campus of Universidade Católica Portuguesa, invites you to immerse yourself in the fascinating history of the book and the importance of copyright with the bibliographic exhibition “The Book and Copyright",  marking the World Book and Copyright Day on April 23.

Throughout the ages, the book has been a pillar of culture: it teaches, conveys knowledge, preserves memories and carries ideas through generations. From papyrus to e-books, its form has evolved, but its essential role remains. In this exhibition, you can explore a special selection of works from the Library's collection that pay tribute to both the history of the book and the fundamental role of authors - the real creators behind the pages we read. We also put the spotlight on copyright, an increasingly relevant issue in an ever-changing digital world. 

Visit us until April 24 and celebrate with us the power of reading and the importance of those who bring it to life. We look forward to seeing you!

Fernando Oliveira e Sá, Joana Vasconcelos and Jorge Pereira da Silva, professors at the Lisbon School of Law of the Universidade Católica Portuguesa (UCP), will join the Supervisory Board of the Portuguese Bar Association (OA) for the three-year period 2025-2027.

According to the official results of the elections for the OA's governing bodies, which took place on 31 March, Maria de Fátima Ribeiro, Paula Ponces Camanho and Raquel Carvalho, lecturers at the Oporto School of the UCP Faculty of Law, were also elected to the Supervisory Board, Vice-Chair of the OA's General Council and the OA's Superior Council, respectively.

The new bodies are due to take office on 8 May.

A new episode of Mindcast, Universidade Católica Portuguesa's podcast focussing on the psychological well-being of students, is now available. This edition's guest is Rita Francisco, professor and researcher at the Faculty of Human Sciences.

The conversation centres on the importance of self-care in the academic context, addressing the impact of university pressure and demands on mental health, stress management, the balance between study, personal life and social networks, as well as the first steps to take when emotional wellbeing is compromised.

This episode invites reflection and offers practical guidelines to promote a more balanced and healthy academic experience. It is also an invitation to raise awareness about the importance of looking after mental health, not only in times of crisis, but as an integral part of academic life.

 

On World Health Day, celebrated on 7 April 2025, the Portuguese Ministry of Health awarded 33 individuals and institutions the Medal of Distinguished Service – Gold Grade, recognising their outstanding contributions to public health in Portugal. Among those honoured was Margarida Vieira, from the Faculty of Health Sciences and Nursing at the Universidade Católica Portuguesa, recognised for her pioneering role in the development of nursing research in the country.

With a career dedicated to teaching, science, and the advancement of knowledge in nursing, Margarida Vieira has become a key figure in the national landscape. Her work has promoted the recognition of nursing research as a fundamental scientific field for improving healthcare, as well as for training professionals to meet the challenges of contemporary society.

This distinction from the Portuguese Ministry of Health acknowledges the impact of her academic and scientific career, and her contribution to strengthening nursing as a critical discipline in promoting health and well-being.

The ceremony took place in Lisbon, on 7 April, as part of the World Health Day 2025 celebrations.

On the 8th, 9th, and 10th of April 2025, the School of Arts, in collaboration with Brotéria, will host the course The Modern Crisis in Sacred Art, which will take place in room EA-117, from 18:00 to 19:30.

In a context where sacred art seems to be losing its place in secularized societies, this course offers a reflection on its meaning and relevance today. What kind of art can or should we have in contemporary churches? How can we continue the extraordinary Christian artistic tradition?

Through both practical and theoretical approaches, we will revisit debates initiated in the 20th century regarding the tension between modern art and spirituality, aiming to shed light on current challenges.

Register here!
General: 15€
Students and UCP collaborators: 10€
School of Arts students and CITAR faculty/researchers: free