In March a new virus altered the normal functioning of society. Universidade Católica Portuguesa (UCP), like countless other institutions, had to adapt to a new reality, transforming in person classes into virtual classes and work into teleworking.
For students and professors, this meant less physical proximity and less social interaction, but the same commitment and dedication, albeit at a distance. Thanks to the 4.0 initiative – UCP's modernization and digital transformation plan – the transfer to online teaching began 24 hours after the suspension of face-to-face classes. Since March 16, online classes have started to function fully, taking advantage of UCP's technological investment.
But it is not just technology that makes success. People have an essential role in the smooth functioning of the new models of teaching and work at Católica. The students, teachers and collaborators joined a mission of perseverance, with several challenges, but always with hope.
For Professor Anna Moura, a professor at the UCP in Viseu, although this is a moment of uncertainty and fear, life asks for another look. “In an almost natural way, there was a great synchrony between the direction, the coordination, collaborators, teachers and students so that everything started to work very quickly”, says the teacher in a video shared on UCP's social networks, which is part of the #CatólicaAtHome campaign. Although the work is done differently, the professor feels connected to her students “giving continuity to our academic semester with excellence”. In addition, she highlights several words that have become part of everyday life: love, togetherness, resilience and solidarity. “We will come out stronger as professionals and as people”, she guarantees.
Enrico, an Italian student at the Faculty of Dental Medicine of UCP in Viseu, highlights in his testimony the positive action of UCP in the planning of virtual classes and in the information provided about the pandemic.
For Catarina, a nursing student at the Institute of Health Sciences in Lisbon, what helped her the most was making a daily list of goals to stay focused. “The e-learning classes have helped a lot,” she says. In addition to feeling that she is able to complete what she had planned for her academic year, due to the transition to online classes, Catarina points out that it is good to always have something to do while at home.
For Sebastião, a PhD student in Cognition and Language Sciences at the Institute of Health Sciences in Lisbon, online classes have been a challenge and he admits to preferring face-to-face classes. Despite his difficulties, he has managed to adapt and says that doctoral classes have been important to deepen practical skills with regard to research.
Cátia, a Master's student in Nursing at UCP in Lisbon, had a very different adaptation from the other students. In addition to being a master's student at Católica, Cátia is a nurse at Hospital Santa Maria, where she works in an intensive care unit - the first to be transformed into a strategic intervention unit for COVID-19. She states that “no one was used to working in these situations”, but that “we adapted human and physical resources to this new reality and I have never felt the team so united”.
Adaptation to online classes was also particularly demanding for Erasmus students. Freshly arrived in Portugal to live an adventure, their experience escaped from all plans. Eva arrived in Portugal in February and was warmly received at the Católica of Porto. Despite enjoying the academic integration activities, the new coronavirus caught everyone off guard. After spending a few weeks in Porto, Eva decided to travel home, in Germany, on April 4. It is from Germany that she keeps in touch with colleagues and friends, and also continues to take virtual classes at the university she calls "an open minded place", where it was possible to "to get to know new people, cultures and lifestyles".
Mayra, an Erasmus student from Croatia, also says that the time she spent at Católica was not enough, but that “being there for two months was really beautiful”. She highlights the people, the good weather and the friendships she made in Porto and she is happy to have continued her classes, even if online, as she remains connected to the city that she fell in love with despite not being physically there.
With its challenges and difficulties, the new teaching model also brought the opportunity to stay connected, to experiment with new teaching and study methods, and to continue to overcome barriers. As we live in extraordinary times, UCP reinforced its support to students of the institution affected by the economic crisis resulting from COVID-19, through the COVID Solidarity Fund. In addition, it launched the “Psychology in Isolation” initiative to promote the psychological well-being of the academic community during this period. Even at a distance, UCP continues to innovate in education and remains faithful to its work in the production of cutting edge science for the common good.
To see more testimonies from UCP students and teachers, follow the campaign #CatólicaAtHome on our social networks.
