Filipa Sobral, lecturer at the Faculty of Education and Psychology of the Portuguese Catholic University (FEP-UCP), has been awarded first prize (ex aequo) in the inaugural edition of the UCP Pedagogical Innovation Prize 2025, an initiative that aims to recognise and promote innovative teaching practices that are student-centred and demonstrate a proven impact on learning.
The award was presented during the National Opening Ceremony of the 2025-2026 Academic Year and Degree Awarding Ceremony, which brought together the academic community of the Portuguese Catholic University on 13 October 2025.
The winning project, authored by the lecturer, is entitled “Learning, Producing, Sharing: The podcast as a collaborative pedagogical tool” and was developed within the curricular unit “Contemporary Challenges in Work and Labour Relations” of the undergraduate degree in Psychology. The initiative challenges students to produce an academic podcast episode, integrating theoretical knowledge with practical experiences and transforming them into active agents in the creation and dissemination of knowledge.
Since the 2021/2022 academic year, this pedagogical practice has involved 68 students, including the 16 who took part in 2023/2024, the year to which the award refers. The innovative format is based on a collaborative and interdisciplinary approach that combines lectures, research and multimedia production, culminating in a public presentation of the podcasts — a moment that reinforces student motivation and responsibility.
Student-centred innovation and proven learning impact
According to Filipa Sobral, “innovation lies in transforming the student’s role — from a mere passive receiver to an active agent in the construction and dissemination of knowledge.” The lecturer further emphasises that this methodology “promotes critical thinking, teamwork, effective communication, and ethical rigour in the collection and processing of information.”
Results from pedagogical surveys confirm the success of the initiative, showing very positive evaluations in indicators such as participation, autonomy, critical thinking and overall satisfaction.
From a personal perspective, Filipa Sobral describes the distinction as “recognition of the effort and dedication invested in creating methodologies that make learning more meaningful and motivating.” Professionally, she highlights that the award serves as “an incentive to continue exploring transformative pedagogical practices that link teaching, research and social impact,” thereby strengthening FEP-UCP’s role as a space of excellence and creativity in higher education.
The UCP Pedagogical Innovation Prize awards €1,000 per winning project, to be reinvested in teaching, research or other academic initiatives. Selection criteria include the degree of pedagogical innovation, impact on learning, relevance to the competences developed, and the quality of the public presentation of the competing practices.
