We continue our “Learning with Impact” series, a dedicated space where we share stories of pedagogical innovation that take place every day at the Faculty of Education and Psychology of the Universidade Católica Portuguesa (FEP-UCP). On this occasion, we highlight the testimony of Professor Luísa Mota Ribeiro, whose work exemplifies our conviction that learning gains a new dimension when it steps outside the classroom and connects with the real world.

Knowledge and social impact

Through the Service-Learning methodology, Luísa Mota Ribeiro challenges her students to identify real needs and to collaborate with individuals and organisations. This approach allows academic knowledge to be transformed into social impact, resulting in learning that is more meaningful, more human, and truly transformative. In the professor’s view, this commitment to the community is essential for training professionals capable of responding to the challenges of today's society.

Pedagogical innovation and the future

Teaching with impact also implies a commitment to lifelong learning; for this reason, the professor is a member of the Generative Artificial Intelligence Community of Learning and Practice, promoted by the Católica Learning Innovation Lab (CLIL). Within this context of sharing and experimentation, Luísa Mota Ribeiro explores new tools to make her classes even more current, participatory, and aligned with the challenges of the future. It is this balance between community service and the technological vanguard that defines innovation at our Faculty.

About the "Learning with Impact" series 

This series gives visibility to our faculty members' commitment to teaching that leaves a lasting mark. At the Faculty of Education and Psychology of the Universidade Católica Portuguesa, teaching is more than just transmitting knowledge: it is about reflecting, adjusting, and transforming the way we teach to better listen to and prepare our students.