The first day of March was the date chosen for the public launch of the fundraising campaign for the new Católica Campus in Lisbon - Campus Veritati - as part of the Universidade Católica Portuguesa (UCP) global campaign "Together We Shape the Future".

Surrounded by blue lights and contagious smiles from meetings and reunions, the alumni gave testimony to "values and training", praising the pioneering spirit that has always been a hallmark of Católica.

The President of UCP, Isabel Capeloa Gil, emphasised that this "is the most ambitious university expansion project ever undertaken in Portugal". "The ability to realise the impossible has been the reason for our success," she said, describing the project as "truly transformative" and "an anchor not only for Portugal, but for the world".

"Católica didn't come to do the same thing, it came to do it differently. We came to stir up the waters," he said, also recalling that "everyone said it was impossible to create a non-state medical course".

Unafraid to take risks, the result of Católica's ambition was mirrored by all those who gathered in the early evening of 1 March. "We came to transform people, UCP's legacy is the Alumni, Católica's greatest success is this exceptional community gathered here," said Isabel Capeloa Gil.

The Dean of Católica Lisbon, Filipe Santos, praised the "inspiring and unlikely history" of the Faculty with "pioneering management teaching in Portugal", which has grown over the last 50 years, graduating thousands of students.

The Vice-Rector of Católica Miguel Athayde Marques, presented in detail the project for the new Campus Veritati, designed by architect João Luís Carrilho da Graça, comprising two buildings in the northern part of the UCP Campus in Lisbon.

"Católica is lived, felt on the skin. You can't explain it," said Alexandra Barreto, the Executive Director of Católica Lisbon, before Francisco Rebelo de Andrade & Banda took charge of the evening's entertainment.

With the expectation that by the end of 2027 Campus Veritati will be the new home for thousands of students, the fundraising campaign will run until then. In addition to the priority objective of funding the construction of the Campus, there are also lines of support for investment in the School's Knowledge and Innovation, as well as scholarship programmes for high merit students.

All donations, regardless of their value, will be recognised, and there are different recognition options, including the possibility of naming the various spaces of the Veritati Campus.

You can consult all the information here.