On September 5th, the Faculty of Education and Psychology of the Universidade Católica Portuguesa (FEP-UCP) welcomed its new Psychology undergraduate students. In an atmosphere of great enthusiasm and expectation, the new students were welcomed by the Faculty's Director, Raquel Matos, by Diana Soares, a member of the FEP's Board of Directors for ‘Quality of Teaching’, and also by representatives of the Students' Association.
The opening ceremony, conducted at the Universidade Católica in Porto, marked the beginning of a new stage in the lives of these young people. Welcoming the new students, Raquel Matos pointed out some of the characteristics that she considers fundamental in this new journey: "Flexibility, availability, responsibility and critical thinking. And also challenge. If the students don't challenge us to do more and better, we won't develop”.
The director of the FEP-UCP mentioned that this year will be marked by the celebration of the 20th anniversary of the degree in Psychology, coordinated by António Fonseca, a faculty at the FEP-UCP who was responsible for the creation of the degree in 2004.
“I would like to welcome you as your teacher and as the promoter/coordinator of this 20th anniversary programme. Throughout this academic year, we'll be celebrating this date, above all by reflecting on what your generation of psychologists is and could become in Portugal and in the world”, he said.
After this speech, Diana Soares stressed the importance of student involvement in the life of the Faculty: “Your collaboration is fundamental to our success. The way we organise our teaching, research and community intervention projects is based on the active participation of our students. Your collaboration is essential for us to develop learning experiences and activities that are effective and fully involve you”.
At the session, 2nd and 3rd year students shared their experiences of entering higher education, highlighting the main fears and challenges they faced.
As usual, the FEP-UCP Students' Association was represented at this important event, confirming its role as a link between students and the University: "We always have an open door to offer support. The Association organises initiatives that help smooth the integration process, such as the mentoring programme, which reduces the initial discomfort, and various workshops that introduce the different areas of psychology. We also organise social dinners, which strengthen the sense of community and encourage the creation of bonds between students”.
Starting a new chapter
The welcome event was more than just a welcoming ceremony. It was a time for the new students to get to know the faculty, their teachers and their classmates, and to feel part of a welcoming and inspiring community.
From 9 to 25 September, the new students will also have the opportunity to take part in various social events and icebreaker activities with different people from the Faculty. The aim is to encourage the welcoming and integration of all students as they embark on a challenging and future-focused university journey. We wish you a good academic year!
