Isabel Capeloa Gil honoured in Abu Dhabi, on International Women's Day

On Women's Day around the world, UCP is proud of the distinction awarded to Isabel Capeloa Gil, confirming the excellence of women in the academic and professional world.

The President of Universidade Católica Portuguesa (UCP) was recognised as one of Forbes' 50 over 50 personalities at the third annual 30/50 Forbes Summit in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.

Isabel Capeloa Gil, the only Portuguese woman on the Forbes 50 over 50 list, was also a pioneer in the International Federation of Catholic Universities (FIUC). She has been president of this federation since 2018, the first woman to hold the position, and was re-elected for a second term in 2022.

Described by Forbes as "one of the most venerable women in international Catholic higher education", Isabel Capeloa Gil has devoted special attention to the issue of female leadership, having recently launched the Women+ project, a mentoring and job shadowing programme that aims to inspire leadership in young female graduates.

For more than a decade, Católica has been led by women, although this is a small reality in Portugal where only five of the 16 universities represented on the Council of Rectors of Portuguese Universities are currently led by women.

In 2012, Rector Maria da Glória Garcia succeeded Manuel Braga da Cruz in the position and, four years later, Isabel Capeloa Gil took over the rectorship of UCP and was reappointed in 2020.