The Universidade Católica Portuguesa – Centro Regional do Porto hosted, on July 29, a meeting between the Católica Learning Innovation Lab (CLIL) of the Universidade Católica Portuguesa and the Teaching and Learning Center (NEA) of the University of Aveiro, focused on sharing strategies and experiences in the field of pedagogical innovation in higher education.

The session centered on presenting the models of professional development for teaching staff that each institution has been implementing to promote pedagogical innovation in their respective contexts, with the sharing of concrete initiatives, data, and strategies aimed at supporting the transformation of teaching and learning practices.

In the words of Inês Monteiro, a specialist in pedagogical innovation at CLIL, “this meeting was an important opportunity to learn about and reflect on the different strategies and approaches adopted both by UCP and by UAveiro. Beyond the commonalities, it was particularly relevant to understand how institutional structures interact with various funded projects they host, creating a shared synergy, as well as the strategies to engage students and faculty in the initiatives promoted. The sharing of good practices proved essential to inspire new perspectives and reinforce the commitment to innovation and collaboration in higher education”.

During the meeting, the teams presented their organizational structures, priority intervention lines, and ongoing projects, allowing a cross-analysis of challenges and solutions adopted. This exchange revealed differentiated but complementary approaches in the joint effort to promote quality and pedagogical renewal.

Rúben Alves, coordinator of NEA, emphasized that “at a time when these types of support structures for pedagogical innovation in the Portuguese higher education system are expanding, it is essential to have such meetings that greatly benefit those involved. We have followed CLIL’s activity with great interest, and this meeting allowed us to deepen our knowledge of their activities and, more importantly, it was an excellent opportunity for the teams to build bridges that we can leverage for mutual development”.

The meeting took place in an atmosphere of closeness and open dialogue, fostering mutual recognition and critical reflection on the paths of pedagogical innovation in higher education, from the perspective of inter-institutional sharing of good practices.