Pope Francis has called upon Catholic educational institutions to "foster relationships and collaboration at this particularly difficult time of the pandemic," thus creating "a culture of dialogue that can bring answers to the deep concerns of our society, ending the individualism, sectarianism and rejection that torment it", in a message read this afternoon at the opening of the II Simpósio Global Uniservitate, organised in partnership with the Universidade Católica Portuguesa.
In the communication read by the president of the Portuguese Episcopal Conference, Bishop José Ornelas, the Pope also appealed to Catholic universities to promote projects that "at their conclusion do not remain at a purely academic level, but form the heads, hearts and hands of their students in solidarity and fraternity".
The opening of the II Uniservitate Global Symposium for the promotion of Service-Learning education, organised on 28-29 October by UCP and Uniservitate, with the coordination of CLAYS (Latin American Centre for Service-Learning Solidarity), also featured a message from the UN Secretary General.
António Guterres stressed that "the world we live in faces enormous threats in a context of acute divisions and is confronted with a multiplicity of crises", giving as examples "the Covid-19 pandemic, the climate crisis, geopolitical conflicts and tensions, a wave of distrust and disinformation, threats to Human Rights under fire, Science under attack".
"Now more than ever, we need to overcome divisions, reduce human suffering, restore trust and inspire hope. Quality education is at the heart of meeting these challenges. Universities, in particular, are called upon to play a central role in finding solutions and promoting the 2030 Agenda," António Guterres added.
Recalling the "challenges at a global scale," the Portuguese official stated that "partnerships established from civil society organisations and, in particular, from the university environment, are therefore of enormous value, with a view to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals in order to reduce inequalities and promote dignity and hope for all of Humanity.
Integral education connected to society
Isabel Capeloa Gil, Rector of the Universidade Católica Portuguesa, pointed out that "in a time of increasing new and contradictory protagonists, this call means claiming the right to do things differently, it means finding a valuable proposal that does not result from reacting to short-term trends or needs, but that anticipates the great societal changes and leaves no one behind".
"An education that forms the protagonists of the future must also encourage risk, because educating and learning is inexorably a risky act," added the UCP Rector, in a reference to Pope Francis.
"Here at the Universidade Católica Portuguesa, we are engaged in a curriculum transformation developed with the support of PORTICUS to implement service learning across the university," added Isabel Capeloa Gil referring to the CApS Project - Universidade Católica and Service-Learning: Innovation and Social Responsibility.
At the opening session of the meeting, under the motto "Service-Learning, integral education and transforming spirituality", the Cardinal Patriarch of Lisbon, Manuel Clemente, recalled that "it was to serve the communities that the universities arose. With a practical purpose for everyone".
The Grand Chancellor of UCP called for "teaching connected to society and its needs, both nationally and internationally", recalling the "complexity of the issues that universities deal with, such as climate, refugees, fundamental rights or the empowerment of international organisations, which require a greater connection between teaching and society".
Also present on this first day of activities, Bishop José Ornelas, Bishop of Setúbal and President of the Portuguese Episcopal Conference, highlighted the role of universities "in promoting cultural dialogue".
This event, which has more than 1000 registrants, includes multiple activities in a virtual format, with thematic panels with experts, leaders, students and participants from all over the world.
More than 30 universities and educational institutions belonging to more than 25 countries of the five continents will have, during the meeting, the opportunity to present some of their work in the field of learning and service.
Sustainability
