The Institute for Political Studies and KPMG sign a memorandum of understanding
The Institute for Political Studies (IEP) at Universidade Católica Portuguesa and KPMG have signed a collaboration agreement to award scholarships to students on the Postgraduate Programme in Security and Defence, thereby helping to promote academic excellence, reduce inequalities and encourage specialised training.
The agreement also aims to deepen collaboration between the two institutions, raising awareness and knowledge of security and defence issues amongst students, whilst simultaneously fulfilling a social responsibility to strengthen their position as thought leaders on issues relating to national sovereignty.
The IEP’s Postgraduate Programme in Security and Defence aims to meet the emerging demands of the defence sector, both nationally and internationally, by training decision-makers and strategic managers from the public, private and military sectors, so that they can take the lead in resolving complex and multidimensional challenges. The programme is organised into modules, comprising 4 blocks, 20 course modules, 12 masterclasses and a final conference.
At the signing ceremony, the President of Católica, Isabel Capeloa Gil, noted that the collaboration with KPMG “has been ongoing for several years”, facilitating the development of “projects of mutual interest, always with a view to helping strengthen the country’s capabilities”. “This agreement with KPMG will enable us to grow together so that we can continue to build the capacity of those within the sector, as well as those outside it who also require such training,” she emphasised.
Isabel Capeloa Gil also highlighted that “the field of Security and Defence forms part of the Institute of Political Studies’ positioning in relation to its national and international counterparts. It is a central and multidisciplinary area of research at the Institute”, with “a very clear cross-cutting nature”. Furthermore, the rector continued, “our approach to Security and Defence within the IEP is not limited to the IEP itself. It underpins the University’s role as a pillar of the country’s security”. “Higher education institutions are the first line of defence. They form part of the national security framework, not only through the training they provide, but also by raising awareness among future professionals of the country’s security realities”, she reiterated.
For his part, the CEO of KPMG Portugal, Vítor Ribeirinho, highlighted the intention to “promote literacy” in the defence sector, given “its importance to our sovereignty”. “Beyond the economic aspect, the contribution we must all make as an organisation is to empower our companies as well”.
