Can empathy transform higher education? How can we ensure dignity at work in a context of increasing precarity? These were some of the key questions brought by the Faculty of Education and Psychology of the Universidade Católica Portuguesa (FEP-UCP) to the 5th edition of the International Week – New European Trends in Psychology and Educational Sciences, held at Babeș-Bolyai University (UBB) in Cluj-Napoca, Romania, from 12 to 16 May 2025.
Throughout the week, lecturers and students from various European institutions came together to reflect on the emerging trends in Psychology and Educational Sciences. The event provided a vibrant space for sharing, collaboration, and reimagining what it means to teach and learn in international contexts.
The FEP-UCP was represented by lecturers Patrícia Oliveira-Silva and Filipa Sobral.
Neuroscience and empathy: a new vision for international education
Patrícia Oliveira-Silva, who leads the Faculty’s Internationalisation efforts, opened the week with a keynote address on neuroscience, empathy, and belonging in higher education.
In her talk, “Neuroscience of Belonging: Using empathy and neuroscience to rethink international education”, Oliveira-Silva explored the real impact of social exclusion on the human brain and the importance of empathy in shaping meaningful international learning experiences.
“Exclusion activates the same brain regions as physical pain. It’s not just a metaphor. It’s biology,” she explained. “It is vital that we create academic environments where students feel seen, included, and emotionally safe.”
She emphasised that small gestures — such as mispronouncing a name, misinterpreting a cultural reference, or excluding someone in group work — can significantly affect international students' experience. “Empathy is not an optional extra. It is an essential skill in global higher education.”
In addition to the opening session, Oliveira-Silva also led the workshop “The Brain-Inspired Classroom”, focused on the practical application of cognitive and affective neuroscience principles in teaching. Techniques such as spaced repetition, active recall, and emotional connection to learning were explored with educators from across Europe.
Digital precarity and mental health at work
Filipa Sobral contributed to the event with the presentation “From Flexibility to Precarity? The Evolution of Work from Temporary Employment to Digital Platform Labour”. Her talk examined the shift from stable work models to more flexible arrangements, often characterised by precarity, fragmentation, and hidden algorithmic control.
“The promised autonomy coexists with invisible control that places pressure on workers, affecting their mental health and work-life balance,” she stated.
Sobral also highlighted the lack of specific regulation for digital platform workers and advocated for the role of Organisational Psychology in shaping evidence-based labour policies. She called for methodological innovation in research, suggesting tools such as digital ethnography and longitudinal qualitative studies to better understand the hybrid and fluid realities of the digital labour market.
Throughout the week, the FEP-UCP also took part in various sessions and forums, including FOHE 2025 – The Future of Higher Education, a strategic space for reflecting on the future of European higher education in a globalised world.
Strategic and human-centred internationalisation
The Faculty’s participation in the International Week went beyond institutional presence — it was a clear statement of its vision for internationalisation: intentional, integrated and deeply human.
Alongside academic contributions, the FEP-UCP was also represented by undergraduate Psychology students participating in a Blended Intensive Programme (BIP). These students joined workshops on diversity, well-being, intercultural identity, and global citizenship.
“Our presence highlighted what sets us apart: an approach to internationalisation that goes beyond numbers or targets, and instead focuses on building authentic relationships and creating genuine opportunities for shared growth,” said Oliveira-Silva.
In addition, connections were established with institutions from Sweden, Germany, Romania, and the United States, with potential for future collaboration in mobility, research projects, and joint teaching initiatives.
More than just an academic experience, this week in Cluj-Napoca reinforced FEP-UCP’s role as an active institution in shaping a global, inclusive, and transformative higher education landscape.
