Catholic University - Braga's academic day served to reflect on hope in academia and the challenges and effects of artificial intelligence. The session included the presentation of prizes to several students.

The Portuguese Catholic University - Braga marked Academic Day yesterday with a prayer of wisdom on 'The New Digital Challenges', the presentation of prizes to the best students and a tribute to retired employees.

Speaking on behalf of the rectoral team, the pro-rector of the Braga Campus of the Catholic University, Paulo Dias, said that the university should be a place of hope.

“The university must define itself as a laboratory of hope. Not a vain, innocent, naïve hope, but a context where people experiment, implement and commit to change. Where languages outside everyone's usual frame of reference are experimented with. Where each student is accompanied from the moment they enter the university until the moment they leave. Where their academic performance is valued, but also their individual progress and their attention to others,” said Paulo Dias.

This message was also followed by the Archbishop of Braga, José Cordeiro. “This day helps us to make sense of life. The university, in integral humanity, in truth, as close as possible to knowledge and the sciences, summons the knowledge of hope,” said Archbishop José Cordeiro.

The session was marked by an oration of wisdom on 'The New Digital Challenges' given by the vice-chancellor of the Catholic University. Margarida Mano stressed that we live in a time of radical change where technology and artificial intelligence prevail. “It's a powerful technology that is present in our daily lives. It has changed distances, times and behaviors and has improved the quality of life,” explained Margarida Mano. However, some challenges posed by artificial intelligence were also identified. Challenges of an environmental nature, disinformation or misinformation, inequalities and disruption (interruption of normal functioning).

This was followed by a tribute to retired professors and staff who had worked for the university for 25 and 40 years. The best students from the various courses were honored with various prizes.

The musical entertainment was provided by the Líricas - Tuna Feminina da Universidade Católica - Braga and the Academic Choir.