Universidade Católica Portuguesa has been honoured at the prestigious T4EU Awards, which recognise pedagogical innovation and the implementation of innovative solutions within the Transform4Europe (T4EU) alliance.
In the ‘Digital Learning Technologies’ category, the ‘Journalist meets Translator in the EFL/Translation Classroom’ project was recognised. Coordinated by Jane Duarte, a professor at Católica's Faculty of Human Sciences, the initiative's main objective is to promote interaction between journalism and translation, fostering a deeper understanding of the relationship between language and representation in news production.
Through critical analysis of news texts, translation/post-editing and rewriting exercises, students develop linguistic and discursive skills in English, as well as their digital literacy. In a context marked by disinformation, fake news and artificial intelligence, this project sensitises students to the crucial role of journalists and translators as ‘guardians of information’.
‘Our Católica: A New Way of Working and Connecting’ was also honoured with the T4EU Non-Academic Staff Award in the “Outstanding solutions within the institutions” category. Developed under the leadership of Ana Ortigão Sampaio, Director of Human Resources at Universidade Católica Portuguesa, this initiative aims to strengthen well-being, a sense of belonging and the digitalisation of institutional processes.
The innovative application promotes the sharing of relevant information through news, professional development content, interviews and articles about the various teams at Católica, access to benefits as well as the celebration of anniversaries and years of service, among other events.
‘Our Católica’ thus reinforces the University's commitment to its academic community, creating an environment of proximity in an increasingly digital context.
Also worth mentioning is the T4EU Teaching Qualification Certificate, which aims to recognise teachers who demonstrate teaching excellence and embody the values of the T4EU alliance: inclusion, sustainability and international collaboration. In this first edition, six professors from the Universidade Católica received this distinction:
- Eva Oliveira (Católica Porto Business School)
- António Andrade (Católica Porto Business School)
- Diana Mesquita (Faculty of Education and Psycholog)
- Maria José Serol (Faculty of Dental Medicine)
- Pedro Alves (School of the Arts)
- Anabela Santos Rodrigues (Faculty of Philosophy and Social Sciences)
Diana Soares, coordinator of CLIL (Católica Learning Innovation Lab), played a key role in the implementation of these initiatives, actively contributing as a Católica expert in the Open Learning Hub of the T4EU alliance.
The awards will be officially presented during the international conference "Enhancing Professional Excellence: Synergy of Academic and Non-Academic Staff", at the Vitaltus Magnus University in Lithuania, between 9 and 11 April.
Diana Soares, Maitê Gil e Rita Tavares de Sousa will be taking part in this event, representing the Universidade Católica.
This event will be an opportunity to share good practices and strengthen co-operation between the institutions of the Transform4Europe alliance, with Catolica playing a central role in the discussion on academic and institutional innovation.
