Blossoming is the secret to happiness: Martin's lesson from the T4EU summer course in Lithuania

Martim Dinis, a 2nd year Master's student at the Universidade Católica, embarked on an exchange adventure with the Transform4Europe Alliance (T4EU), where he took part in the (CO)HAPPINESS LABORATORY summer course in Kaunas, Lithuania.

This course, organised by partner T4EU Universidade Vytautas Magnus, followed the format of a hackathon, promoting collaboration between participants to solve problems and identify new opportunities related to happiness.

The decision by Martim, a student at the Institute of Political Studies, to apply for the summer course was motivated not only by his master's thesis exploring the concept of happiness, but also by a particular curiosity. ‘When I learnt that Lithuania was considered this year to be the country where young people up to the age of 30 feel happiest, I thought it would be interesting to understand and learn the secret', Martim explained. But it wasn't just this discovery that attracted him. The desire to share the experience with people from different backgrounds and cultures was decisive for his participation.

And the assessment couldn't have been more positive: ‘I had the opportunity not only to meet and establish a friendly relationship with the other participants from other European countries and universities, but also to better understand the differences that exist between cultural and social conceptions of happiness'.

On an academic level, this course allowed him to deepen his knowledge of the philosophical, political and anthropological concepts surrounding the definition of happiness. In addition, the city of Kaunas surprised him ‘by its essence and beauty, I didn't expect to find such a welcoming and certainly special city'.

Among the many remarkable moments, one in particular stood out. His project group, which included colleague Mariana Santos, a Masters student in Management with a Specialisation in Strategic Marketing at CATÓLICA-LISBON, was awarded 1st place after the presentation, a victory celebrated with enthusiasm.

Another moment that will stay in his memory was the introduction of a concept that transformed his understanding of happiness: ‘to flourish’. ‘The term ‘to flourish’ was introduced instead of ‘happiness’, suggesting a continuous process of personal and interpersonal development, rather than a static goal’, recalls Martim, emphasising the impact of this new perspective on his outlook on life.

When asked if he would recommend the experience to other colleagues, Martim is categorical. ‘I strongly advise all colleagues to take part in T4EU activities. For the various skills you can acquire or develop, for the new academic knowledge you'll have the chance to learn, for the opportunity to meet new people from other countries and cultures.... It's an unmissable opportunity!’ he says with conviction.

So, for Martim, the adventure in Lithuania with Transform4Europe was more than just an academic exchange. It was a journey of discovery, both personal and intellectual, which will certainly influence his professional and academic future.

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