Now in its eighth edition, this philosophy course—developed in partnership with the Portuguese Catholic University and offered exclusively to the DST group—aims to foster critical thinking among more than 700 employees

For the eighth consecutive year, the DST Group will offer a philosophy course for its employees, continuing a project developed in partnership with the Faculty of Philosophy and Social Sciences at the Portuguese Catholic University (UCP) in Braga, which brings philosophical thought into the workplace and embodies a training philosophy that goes beyond strictly technical skills.

With more than 700 employees participating in this second year of the 4th Cycle of Studies, the initiative aims to foster critical thinking, the ability to question, and individual freedom, placing knowledge, human development, and the pursuit of a good life at the center of the group’s organizational culture.

The program covers areas such as logic, aesthetics, philosophy of religion, contemporary thought, anthropology, metaphysics, politics, economics, and art, providing employees with various tools to interpret the world, understand society, and develop a more critical and pluralistic perspective on contemporary challenges.

This investment stems from a broader conception of corporate training. For the DST Group, training employees means not only developing technical skills directly related to their professional activities, but also investing in the holistic development of individuals, fostering curiosity, intellectual autonomy, sensitivity, and the ability to think and make decisions freely and consciously.

Developed since 2020 in partnership with the Portuguese Catholic University, the project has seen growing participation among employees. Approximately 500 people participated in the latest edition—50% more than in the previous cycle—a trend that demonstrates internal interest in training that introduces topics traditionally excluded from professional training programs into everyday business life.

“When we deal with concrete matters, we tend to seek certainties. This ‘immersion’ in philosophy—its thinkers, schools of thought, and controversies—challenges us to question our deepest convictions, to become aware of the boundlessness of reflection, and of the fact that it is rarely possible to reach absolute consensus. Confronting our own biases, rather than causing cognitive discomfort, fosters within us a broader empathy—one capable of helping us understand and accept perspectives and worldviews that are radically different from our own,” emphasizes Aníbal Cardona, a senior occupational safety and health specialist with the group.

Philosophy is part of a broader training strategy that the DST Group has been developing for its employees. Neuroscience, first aid for mental health, art, theater, and creative cooking are some of the areas that have been incorporated into a program that blends scientific knowledge, culture, creativity, and personal development.
In a business environment increasingly shaped by technology, automation, and the rapid transformation of professions, the group thus maintains a distinctive focus on what remains fundamentally human: the ability to think, question, interpret, create, and make decisions. This training policy places people’s development at the heart of the organization’s competitiveness and future.