The Universidade Católica Portuguesa (UCP) is featured in the third episode of a podcast series produced by the European University Association (EUA), which explores key challenges and emerging trends in European Higher Education.

The episode features Diana Soares, lecturer at the Faculty of Education and Psychology and coordinator of the Católica Learning Innovation Lab (CLIL), in conversation with Thérèse Zhang, deputy director for Higher Education Policy at the EUA. Their discussion focuses on the relationship between educational leadership, faculty professional development, and pedagogical innovation.

During the conversation, Diana Soares highlights CLIL’s commitment to evidence-based pedagogical models and underscores the importance of research on teaching and learning as a central pillar of the university’s mission. She also emphasizes the value of fostering an institutional culture that regards teaching as a reflective, intentional, and academically grounded practice.

The discussion further addresses the collaborative nature of teaching, stressing the importance of practice-sharing networks, interinstitutional cooperation, and continuous professional development for academic staff. In this context, the role of higher education institutions in empowering educators as agents of change and leaders in pedagogical innovation is reinforced.

The creation of the Conselho Nacional para a Inovação Pedagógica no Ensino Superior (CNIPES) is also highlighted as a significant milestone, strengthening coordination across institutions and advancing a national agenda focused on pedagogical innovation.

The full episode is available here.