Message from the pro-rector

A University with Identity, Knowledge and Impact

Welcome to Universidade Católica Portuguesa in Porto!

We are an academic community grounded in excellence, Christian humanism and service to society. A community that teaches, conducts research and innovates, but, above all, seeks to educate people who are able to think critically, act responsibly and contribute to building a fairer, more inclusive and sustainable society.

Today, Universidade Católica Portuguesa stands as a leading institution, recognised for the quality of its teaching and research, the relevance of its contribution to society, and its commitment to innovation, sustainability and engagement with the business community. Its impact is recognised internationally across academic, scientific, social, environmental and entrepreneurial dimensions.

At the Porto Campus, this mission takes shape in a distinctive academic environment characterised by diversity and interdisciplinarity. Law, Nursing, the Arts, Psychology, Management and Economics, Biotechnology and Theology coexist on the same campus, fostering interaction between different fields of knowledge and creating exceptional conditions for a holistic education.

This diversity is not simply a feature of our academic offering. It is an essential part of how we understand knowledge and seek to respond to contemporary challenges. The complexity of the world requires dialogue, collaboration and the ability to build bridges between different fields of knowledge, institutions, businesses and the wider community.

We want to offer our students a university experience that extends beyond the classroom. Participation in projects, groups, academic activities and volunteering initiatives encourages critical thinking, social responsibility and engagement with fundamental issues such as ethics, solidarity and sustainability.

We are also a growing community that is increasingly open to the world. This cultural diversity enriches us and strengthens the University's universal vocation. At the same time, we remain deeply connected to the city, the region and the communities we serve. We think globally and act locally, valuing our roots and embracing our responsibility to contribute to the development of the region.

Inclusion and equal opportunities are also priorities for us. Through our own support schemes and in collaboration with partner organisations, scholarships and merit awards are made available to our students, helping to ensure that talent, effort and merit have the conditions to flourish.

Our mission, however, goes beyond the transmission of knowledge. Research, innovation, entrepreneurship and knowledge valorisation are fundamental dimensions of the University's work. In a context of digital transformation and increasingly complex global challenges, we are strengthening our connections with businesses, institutions and society, transforming knowledge and talent into solutions capable of generating economic and social impact.

It is with this sense of responsibility that we look to the future. We want to continue building a University that is committed to quality, close to its people, dedicated to human dignity and capable of generating knowledge with impact. A University that recognises the challenges of its time and actively contributes to finding responses to them, while remaining true to the values that define its identity.

The Porto Regional Centre of Universidade Católica Portuguesa is a collective endeavour, shaped by everyone who studies, teaches, conducts research, works and collaborates with us. And it will continue to make history.

I invite you to discover our Campus, our schools, our projects and, above all, the people who bring this community to life.

Welcome to Católica in Porto.

Isabel Braga da Cruz
Pro-rector of Universidade Católica Portuguesa for the Porto Campus