Católica and António Pargana Foundation sign protocol to train leaders

Universidade Católica Portuguesa (UCP) and the António Pargana Foundation (FAP) have established a collaboration protocol to co-organise the Future Leaders programme in Portugal, which aims to train Brazilian leaders through closer and more in-depth contact with the Portuguese business community.

The first edition of this programme, aimed more at young leaders in mid-level careers, will begin next autumn and will last two weeks.

For the President of UCP, Isabel Capeloa Gil, the aim of this programme is to bring the Portuguese diaspora closer together and develop emotional ties, but also to create value for the country. ‘Universities, by definition, have to be associated with this process of creating economic, social and cultural value, they are not ivory towers,’ she emphasised.

‘For Portugal to truly be able to grow effectively, it needs to leverage and attract all these points of portugality around the world. This programme has this objective,’ said Isabel Capeloa Gil.

This initiative ‘will target mid-level leaders, who will be the leaders of the future, starting with Brazil, but logically the idea will be to take it to other markets,’ said the founder and president of FAP, António Pargana, who took part in the signing ceremony remotely.

‘By getting to know what we have to offer, these people will be able to help our companies sell more, do more business and attract more investment,’ he emphasised, highlighting the mission of “awakening the ambition of young people because they need to be enthusiastic, try to do more, make things happen”.

The protocol was signed by Bernardo Ivo Cruz, representing the FAP.

Set up in October 2023, the António Pargana Foundation aims to help strengthen ties between Portugal and the Diaspora, in particular with students with hereditary or emotional ties to the country.

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