The Transform4Europe Alliance at UCP (Universidade Católica Portuguesa) will host the 1st Transform4Europe (T4EU) Outreach Meeting, taking place at UCP Headquarters in Lisbon from the 7th to the 8th of May, 2024. This activity marks a collaborative effort among the ten European universities within the alliance to enhance outreach initiatives and foster closer international cooperation.

This meeting's primary aim is to facilitate the implementation of the Alliance's Outreach strategy through structured project execution. Over two days, participants of all 10 Alliance countries will engage in knowledge sharing and the exchange of best practices, contributing to the development of a comprehensive Outreach plan for T4EU.

The meeting agenda encompasses a series of activities designed to promote active participation and meaningful discussions:

•  Definition and Implementation of Global Outreach Policy with Academia: Discussions will revolve around defining and implementing a global outreach policy with academia, with a focus on enhancing international collaborations;
• Framework Development for T4EU Visiting Professorship: Attendees will collaborate on developing a framework for the T4EU Visiting Professorship program, aimed at facilitating academic exchange and knowledge transfer;
• Definition and Implementation of T4EU Societal Outreach Policy: The meeting will address the definition and implementation of a societal outreach policy for T4EU, emphasizing engagement with local communities and addressing societal challenges;
• Establishment of T4EU Life-long Learning Center and Promotion of Curricular Service-Learning: Efforts will be made to establish a T4EU life-long learning center and promote curricular service-learning initiatives, highlighting the Alliance's dedication to education and community engagement.

The T4EU members and partners will participate in this occasion, as the Alliance collectively strives to advance T4EU outreach efforts and strengthen collaboration across Europe and globally.

For more information, please contact: t4eu@ucp.pt

FULL PROGRAMME

"The reason why we’re talking about war is because we want to talk about peace." With these words, Isabel Capeloa Gil, President of Universidade Católica Portuguesa (UCP), summarised the theme of the 14th edition of the Lisbon Summer School for the Study of Culture.

The relationship between Culture and War is under debate from June 24 to 29 at the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation and the UCP in Lisbon. Organised by the Lisbon Consortium of the Faculty of Human Sciences, it is also the first Summer School of the Transform4Europe university alliance.

At the opening session, the President mentioned the origins of the Lisbon Consortium and this Summer School 14 years ago when "a group of academics, curators and trustees decided to bring together universities, museums and foundations to create a knowledge network focused on promoting critical and intellectual dialogue".

"To understand the cutting-edge issues facing our society", the event aims to promote "meaningful dialogues about the state of the world and the role that culture has to play to tackle the inequalities, the persistent issues, problems, and crisis affecting us", explained Isabel Capeloa Gil.

On the topic of this edition, Nelson Ribeiro, director of the Faculty of Human Sciences, said "Unfortunately, there is no need to explain why this is a pressing topic. War has become central to most discussions on international and national affairs impacting directly or indirectly millions of people and creating anxieties about our common futures".

Without forgetting the role of social media and artificial intelligence in wars, Nelson Ribeiro noted that "the media are not only mediators of wars but are also instruments of warfare or munitions of the mind".

Closing the session, Alexandra Lopes, director of the Research Centre for Communication and Culture (CECC), recalled the Summer School's "long tradition of fostering good debates, conviviality, and knowledge exchange".

The professor also reaffirmed CECC's "commitment to research training and to participation in a cultue of dialogue, negotiation and inter-relatedness, one where knowledge production is not necessarily a contest but rather a hospitable space for discussion and dissent, for participation, and inclusion".

Some of the keynote speakers during this Summer School include the filmmaker Tonya Lewis Lee, artist Rosângela Rennó, and Professors Antonio Monegal and Christiane Solte-Gresser, among others.

The Transform4Europe (T4EU) Office at Universidade Católica Portuguesa is pleased to announce the selected students for the T4EU 2024 Bootcamp, which will be held in Burgas, Bulgaria from September 10 to 12, 2024. This event, organized by Sofia University St. Kliment Ohridski, focuses on sustainable development and environmental transformation, specifically addressing effective climate adaptation and innovations.

After a rigorous selection process, the following PhD students from Universidade Católica Portuguesa have been chosen to represent our institution at the Bootcamp:

These students were selected based on their outstanding applications, motivation letters, academic achievements, and commitment to sustainability and innovation.

The participation of our doctoral students in this bootcamp is of immense importance. It enhances their research skills and knowledge and aligns with the University's strategic goals in promoting internationalization and sustainability. Engaging in such international research activities fosters collaboration with peers and experts from different parts of Europe, thereby broadening their academic and professional horizons.

The theme of this year's bootcamp focuses on sustainable development and environmental transformation and it is particularly relevant to UCP's commitment to sustainability. By participating in this bootcamp, our students will gain valuable insights into innovative approaches and practical solutions for effective climate adaptation. This experience will not only contribute to their academic growth but also empower them to make significant contributions to sustainability initiatives at UCP and beyond.

The bootcamp will provide intensive educational and training modules, fostering interdisciplinary research and collaboration among young researchers and graduate students from across Europe. Participants will engage in practical sessions, supported by a team of mentors, culminating in a presentation and discussion panel.

For further details about the bootcamp and the Transform4Europe initiative, please visit the Transform4Europe page on the Universidade Católica Portuguesa website.

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.

T4EU Activities Calendar