Yesterday, the Portuguese Catholic University (UCP) in Braga marked Academic Day with a ceremony recognising academic and professional merit, honouring outstanding students, three employees with 25 years of service and one who has already retired.

At the formal session, the vice-chancellor of the Braga campus, Paulo Dias, emphasised that Academic Day goes far beyond individual recognition. ‘We are here to celebrate something that, at first glance, may seem like individual recognition: the merit, career and dedication of each person,’ he said, arguing that each award reflects ‘an invisible but unbreakable network of support, high standards and dedication’. Addressing the distinguished students, he stressed that ‘merit is not a matter of chance’ and that performance is the result of ‘multiple factors, from family support (...) but also your own commitment and effort.’

The pro-rector also had a word of recognition for the teachers: ‘no student receives this award alone’ - and for the staff, whose daily, often silent, contribution ‘keeps this house running’. For Paulo Dias, the awards also represent a responsibility: ‘true success is not measured by what we accumulate, but by the impact we leave behind’.

On that occasion, Paulo Dias also referred to the ‘hard work that has been done to improve research and teaching conditions’ at UCP in Braga, with ‘some signs’ already beginning to show, such as the renovation of the campus and ‘continuous improvement in study conditions’. ‘With the support of the PRR, several investments have already been made and, with sponsorship, we will continue to improve the learning rooms and restructure the services and spaces for welcoming students,’ he said, also considering the introduction of a new Management course in the next academic year ‘a sign of hope for the future’.

Representing the Archbishop of Braga, D. José Cordeiro, Canon Luís Miguel Rodrigues addressed a special greeting to the award-winning students and distinguished collaborators. ‘I salute the students who have been awarded for academic merit,’ he said, hoping that the knowledge they have acquired will contribute to their personal progress and to ‘the construction of a more just and fraternal world.’

He acknowledged the employees with 25 and 40 years of service for ‘their dedication and work on behalf of UCP,’ expressing his desire that the University continue to be ‘a synodal place of reflection and study.’

The programme also included a lecture entitled ‘Celebrating Camilo Castelo Branco on the bicentenary of his birth’ by José Cândido Oliveira Martins, performances by the choir and the academic tuna, as well as creative workshops and sports activities throughout the afternoon.

The Vice-Chancellor of UCP, Isabel Vasconcelos, emphasised the central role of people in university life, in a context of increasing digitalisation. ‘This ceremony (...) celebrates people,’ she said, adding that ‘it is people who bring institutions to life’ and that this role ‘is not within the reach of algorithms.’ In highlighting the award-winning students, she emphasised that the recognised merit reflects ‘effort, persistence and commitment’ on a path that aims not only at good academic results, but also at integral development as professionals and citizens. The Vice-Chancellor also thanked the teaching staff and collaborators for their commitment, recalling the University's mission: ‘to educate people, cultivate science, and transform the country and the world through excellence by example.’