Studying resilience through contexts marked by war and reconstruction was the challenge that led Rita Campos, a Master’s student in Psychology of Human Resources Development at the Faculty of Education and Psychology of the Universidade Católica Portuguesa (FEP-UCP), to take part in an international Summer School, where theory came to life through real testimonies and field experiences.
The Summer School Practicing Resilience – Preparing for Recovery took place in Croatia and brought together around forty students from various Catholic universities across different countries, in an intensive and intercultural learning environment. Organised by the Catholic University of Croatia, in partnership with the University of Notre Dame (United States), the Ukrainian Catholic University and the Catholic Universities Partnership, the programme emerged as a sign of solidarity and support for the Ukrainian people, focusing on the challenges of resilience and recovery in war contexts.
With a holistic approach, the Summer School combined academic training with cultural, social and sporting activities, promoting an integrated reflection on individual and collective reconstruction processes following crisis situations.
A practical approach to resilience in real contexts
The student highlights that her motivation to participate stemmed from the opportunity to study resilience in an applied and situated way. “The idea of studying resilience not in an abstract manner, but by looking at people and institutions that have lived through contexts of war and destruction, seemed to me a rare opportunity,” says Rita.
Throughout the programme, participants were exposed to different perspectives on resilience, including approaches related to future scenario planning, work with children and communities in contexts of adversity, and the analysis of recovery processes in societies affected by conflict. The experience also included a group project (capstone), encouraging the integration of contributions from various areas of knowledge.
The international context was highlighted as one of the main added values of the experience. “Working in groups with people from different cultures, mother tongues and academic backgrounds forces us to explain our ideas more clearly and to listen to perspectives I had never considered before,” the student notes.
Academic impact and personal development
From an academic perspective, the experience enabled the student to deepen knowledge relevant to the training in Psychology, particularly in the areas of attachment, trauma and intervention in contexts of adversity. Among the most impactful contents, she highlights resilience frameworks applied to community contexts and the PEARLS principles, which emphasise the importance of relationships and collective dynamics in building resilience.
Participation in the Summer School also contributed to a broader understanding of the concept. The student underscores the shift from an individual-centred perspective to a more collective and contextualised view, highlighting the role of families, institutions and communities in recovery processes.
In addition to scientific learning, the experience also allowed the development of transversal skills, such as teamwork in a multicultural context, communication in English in an academic setting, and the ability to integrate contributions from different fields in a shared project.
The Summer School also addressed key issues for the post-conflict period, such as models of social reconstruction, the sustainability of post-war development, and different approaches to the recovery and transformation of societies, contributing to a critical and informed reflection on these challenges.
Participation in this initiative reinforces FEP-UCP’s commitment to internationalisation and to training professionals prepared to respond to complex and highly demanding contexts.
The Summer School Practicing Resilience – Preparing for Recovery took place in Šibenik, Croatia, between 12 and 21 June 2026.
