New Board of the Faculdade de Direito takes office
"A happy moment, of renewed affirmation, confidence in service, leadership and commitment to the project of Universidade Católica Portuguesa." It was with these words that the Rector of UCP, Isabel Capeloa Gil began her speech at the swearing-in ceremony of the new Board of the Faculdade de Direito (Law School).
On January 10th, at the UCP headquarters in Lisbon, Prof. José Augusto Lobo Moutinho took office as Director of the Faculdade de Direito, Prof. Ana Maria Taveira Fonseca as Dean of the Lisbon School of Law, Prof. Manuel António Fontaine de Campos as Dean of the Porto School of Law and Prof. Miguel Poiares Maduro as director of the Católica Global School of Law.
At the ceremony, the Catholic Rector thanked the newly sworn-in members for their "availability to serve in this new cycle", stressing that "in the University, unlike in politics, this is not a new legislature".
"At the University, a new leadership brings different projects that are built on traced paths. Yet glancing at the past helps to make sense of the present and in doing so, to plan for the future," added the Rector.
A future, which according to the Faculdade de Direito Director "brings several challenges" to the new leadership.
"The great challenge is to maintain the direction of this faculty of excellence and to reflect on and implement the strategic plan that has been defined", said José Augusto Lobo Moutinho, adding that "the most pressing challenge is the reformulation of the Católica Global School of Law". Another great challenge, "is the need to retain the talent of the best students of the Faculty, making them enthusiastic about their academic career".
The Grand Chancellor of Universidade Católica Portuguesa, D. Manuel Clemente, who participated remotely, stressed that "the Catholic Church and beyond, counts a great deal on the Faculdade de Direito of the Universidade Católica Portuguesa".
"The Faculdade de Direito has in itself a ballast, a competence and a capacity to respond that society needs, particularly at this time when there are so many challenges", concluded the Cardinal Patriarch of Lisbon.