Students from Católica honoured with Banco de Portugal Award

Camila Rita Pereira Valério de Barros Monteiro, from Católica Lisbon School of Business and Economics, and Tiago Sousa Duarte Neves from Católica Porto Business School, were recognised by Banco de Portugal with the Professor Jacinto Nunes Award. This prestigious award is given annually to the student with the highest final grade point average in Economics at selected educational institutions. 

The award ceremony took place on 20 January 2026 at the Money Museum (Museu do Dinheiro) in Lisbon and was attended by the Governor of the Banco de Portugal, Álvaro Santos Pereira, Vice-Governors Luís Máximo dos Santos and Clara Raposo, as well as board members Helena Adegas, Rui Pinto and Francisca Guedes de Oliveira, who is also a faculty member at Católica Porto Business School. Helena Correia, Associate Dean for Undergraduate Programmes at the School, was also present at the ceremony. 

The Professor Jacinto Nunes Prize distinguishes students who achieved the highest final grade in the Bachelor’s Degree in Economics, among higher education institutions whose entry grade for the last admitted candidate was equal to or higher than 140 points. Through this initiative, the Banco de Portugal aims to recognise academic excellence in a field of study that is central to its institutional mission. 

In addition to the €2,000 cash prize, the best student from each faculty also has the opportunity to undertake an internship at Banco de Portugal, which will enrich their academic career and give them direct contact with the professional world.

"Given my somewhat unusual path—changing my degree from Management to Economics in what would have been my last semester in Management—the Professor Jacinto Nunes Award confirmed that I made the right choice. It validated my decision to choose the academic field that has always inspired me the most, even though it wasn't the most obvious choice on a personal level," says Camila Monteiro about this distinction.

The student highlights the role of CLSBE in her achievement, "especially through the excellent economists I had the privilege of having as teachers throughout my degree. It was they who, in my first year, awakened my passion for economics and, later, my particular interest in macroeconomics."

Proud of this distinction, Camila Monteiro also points out that “this type of distinction is beneficial because it creates incentives for us, as students, to strive to do our best, knowing that our effort and dedication will be recognized and valued.”

Tiago Duarte Neves chose Católica Porto Business School because he recognized the School as one of the leading institutions for teaching economics in Portugal. Throughout his academic career, he was awarded a merit scholarship from Católica Porto Business School in his second and third years of his bachelor's degree, reflecting his consistent academic performance and excellence. 

For Tiago, “receiving the Professor Jacinto Nunes Award represents the culmination of a stage marked by great dedication and commitment. More than recognition for the work I have done throughout my academic career, this distinction has special significance because it comes at a time when I am preparing for my PhD in Economics.” 

This distinction reinforces the Universidade Católica commitment to academic excellence and to training highly qualified students who are prepared to respond to the challenges of the economy and the financial system.