The Faculty of Education and Psychology of the Universidade Católica Portuguesa (FEP-UCP) opened its doors to welcome the new Education Sciences students. The welcome session was marked by moments of sharing, inspiration and integration, reflecting the welcoming spirit and academic excellence of the FEP-UCP.
The meeting was opened by Diana Soares, coordinator of the PhD in Education Science, who encouraged the new students to enjoy every moment of this new journey. "You are about to embark on a transformative journey. Enjoy every moment, question, explore and feel completely at home," she said.
Isabel Baptista, coordinator of the Master's in Science of Education, echoed the welcome message and stressed the importance of support from the teaching and administrative team. "We know that this journey can be challenging, but you should know right now that you're not alone. We encourage collaboration and a sense of community among all students," she said.
In addition to the coordinators of the Master's and Doctoral programmes, the new students were able to meet José Matias Alves, coordinator of the Specialization in Academic Administration and Organization of the Master’s in Science of Education, and Cristina Palmeirão, professor in both programmes and coordinator of the Support Service for the Improvement of Education (SAME).
During the meeting, Diana Mesquita, Director of the Research Centre for Human Development (CEDH), explained how the Centre's research dynamic is linked to the Doctoral and Master's programmes, providing a comprehensive and integrated view of the research opportunities on offer.
The students' perspective
The new students shared their motivations and expectations. Francisca Miranda, a first-year doctoral student, said that her main motivation for joining the programme was related to her career path. “I currently work at the Católica Learning Innovation Lab, and I believe that this doctorate will provide me with the necessary tools to grow as a professional and researcher in the field of educational sciences," she said. She hopes to complement her academic training by developing research skills that she can apply in her professional context.
Inês Monteiro, a student on the same course, believes that enrolling in the doctoral programme is a natural progression in her career in educational psychology. “My expectations are related to the opportunity to consolidate my scientific knowledge and to contribute to the co-construction of knowledge with a positive impact on the community,” she explained.
It should also be noted that Álvaro Silva, a social educator and 2nd year student of the Master's in Science of Education, specialising in Social Pedagogy, considers the relevance of the curriculum and the experience of the teaching staff as decisive factors in his choice. “My professional experience with young refugees has made me realise the importance of perfecting my professional practice and contributing to the development of future knowledge on the reception of young refugees," he said.
An atmosphere of welcome and integration
The welcome session was much appreciated by the students and was characterised by a very warm and cooperative atmosphere. The new students had the opportunity to meet their classmates, teachers and course coordinators and to ask questions.
The meeting took place on 18 October 2024 at the Universidade Católica in Porto, marking the start of the 2024-2025 academic year for the FEP-UCP Education Sciences students.
