During the National Opening Ceremony of the 2025–2026 Academic Year and Award Certeficate of the Universidade Católica Portuguesa (UCP), held on October 13, 2025, the university honored the faculty members and researchers who received awards in the first edition of the Pedagogical Innovation Award, highlighting their contribution to enhancing the quality, innovation, and excellence of teaching practices.
The award aims to encourage and recognize innovative pedagogical practices that foster the renewal of teaching and learning methodologies and strengthen the transformative role of higher education. Each winning project receives €1,000 to be reinvested in teaching, research, or other pedagogical initiatives.
Following a rigorous evaluation process conducted by an independent jury, three projects were distinguished as joint winners:
- Ana Filipa dos Santos Sobral – Faculty of Education and Psychology
Project: “Learn, Produce, Share: The podcast as a collaborative pedagogical tool” - Raquel Campos Franco and Leonor Sopas – Católica Porto Business School
Project: “Learning with Purpose – Applying academic skills to real-world challenges in the social sector” - Bruno Cardoso, Ana Cachaço, Ana Luísa Silva, Arlindo Ferreira, Carlota Cunha Matos, Inês Milagre, Jader Cruz, and Sofia Menéres – Faculty of Medicine
Project: “Implementation of Mini-Tests in Tutorial Sessions: A strategy for concept consolidation in Problem-Based Learning”
The projects stood out for their innovation, impact on learning, and quality of public presentation.
During the ceremony, Isabel Capeloa Gil, Rector of UCP, congratulated the winners and all applicants, emphasizing that the award serves as an incentive for pedagogical experimentation and the adoption of student-centered approaches.
