"I don't make a big distinction between holiday reading and reading for the rest of the year. Often the books I take on holiday are the ones I didn't manage to read during the year."

Católica Medical School and Hospital Vila Franca de Xira, E.P.E. signed, on July 11th, a new collaboration protocol. An act that consolidates the already existing cooperative relationship between the Vila Franca de Xira Hospital and the UCP, the first protocol of which was signed in December 2022.

This new protocol will allow students from the Academic Health Units of the Universidade Católica Portuguesa, from all courses and study cycles in health, to carry out practical teaching through internships at the Units of ULS Estuário do Tejo, or at the Hospital de Vila Franca de Xira either in Primary Health Care Units.

The first students from the Católica Medical School will begin internships at the Vila Franca de Xira Hospital next September.

António de Almeida, Director of the Católica Medical School, highlighted the extension of the protocol “as it will allow internships, not only for students from Católica Medical School, but also for students of all courses and study cycles in health”.

Carlos Andrade Costa, chairman of the Board of Directors of the Hospital de Vila Franca de Xira, EPE, expresses the importance of this protocol by “consolidating the existing cooperative relationship between the two Institutions, which will come to fruition next September with the arrival at the Vila Franca de Xira dos Hospital first students at the Catholic University”.

In this way, the Hospital de Vila Franca de Xira, EPE, continues to be a clinical collaborator of the Católica Medical School, whose partner is Grupo Luz Saúde. This partnership with Grupo Luz includes all the hospitals of the group, including Hospital da Luz Lisboa, which will be the University Hospital of the Católica Medical School.

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Vasco Almeida, an alumnus of CATÓLICA-LISBON, has been awarded the Academic Achievement Award for attaining academic excellence during his fourth year of the Double Degree program at the University of San Diego (USD).

The Academic Achievement Award is presented to students who demonstrate exceptional performance throughout their academic journey. It’s a recognition based on academic achievements, including high grades, active engagement in academic activities, and potential for continued success in education.

Vasco Almeida, who recently completed a Double Degree in Business Management with specializations in International Business, Finance, and Real Estate from CATÓLICA-LISBON and the University of San Diego, expresses a sense of pride in receiving this award. He states that it "represents the acknowledgment of my effort and dedication over the years, culminating in a perfect GPA of 4.0/4.0. It was particularly gratifying to realize that I excelled academically at CATÓLICA-LISBON and that this allowed me to represent my university positively in the Double Degree program in San Diego."

Despite facing challenges such as different schedules, cultural aspects, and especially the distinctive academic system of the United States, Vasco believes that "discipline, resilience, and the ability to adapt to new contexts were crucial for achieving this recognition."

Graduating "Summa Cum Laude," developing a consulting project for the Mexican company TEKITI, which included a visit to Guadalajara, Mexico, and obtaining an exchange scholarship that allowed him to spend a month in Tokyo, Japan, studying Negotiations at a Japanese institution were significant milestones for Vasco Almeida.

Currently working as an Operations Analyst at Uber, Vasco intends to continue his studies. "This award and the experience of the Double Degree (…) have opened many doors for me. Holding both an American and a Portuguese diploma is a differentiating factor in the job market, both in Portugal and abroad. I hope to continue internationalizing my profile and reaping the rewards of my hard work."

To future students, Vasco Almeida advises, "Give your best at CATÓLICA-LISBON, as the Double Degree with USD is a highly competitive exchange program. Solidifying your knowledge in Portugal will enable you to shine in the Double Degree with USD." Additionally, he recommends preparing in advance for the cost of living in the United States, which can be an unpleasant surprise if not properly planned.

"Completely transformative, innovative, and allowed me to achieve greatness." This is the motto Vasco chooses to encapsulate his experience at both institutions, reflecting on how his journey at CATÓLICA-LISBON and San Diego was innovative, allowing him to surpass his personal and professional expectations.

Maria Caetano, an alumna of the Universidade Católica Portuguesa, will represent Portugal at the Olympic Games Paris 2024, which will begin on 26 June.

The former bachelor's and master's student and assistant professor at the Católica Lisbon School of Business & Economics (CLSBE) is part of the Portuguese equestrian team, which will represent Portugal in the dressage discipline.

This is the UCP alumna's second participation in the Olympic Games. In 2020, Maria Caetano was part of the Portuguese equestrian teaching team, with Rodrigo Torres and João Miguel Torrão, which finished the Grand Prix Special in eighth place.

Maria Caetano now returns to the Olympic Games with Rita Ralão Duarte and João Moreira, in the team competition and the individual event, with António do Vale and Jeannette Jenny as reserve riders.

Paris'2024 takes place between 26 July and 11 August and the competitions in this sport will be held between 27 July and 6 August.

Remember the athlete's interview for the first edition of Alma Mater (AM) magazine here.

The Porto Sustainable Business Summer School results from a partnership between Católica Porto Business School and WU - Wirtschafts Universität Wien (Vienna University of Economics and Business). The initiative between the two schools, which hold triple accreditation (EQUIS, AMBA and AACSB), aims to bring together students and teachers from both institutions yearly to encourage debate and reflection around an innovative and challenging programme on Sustainable Business.

For the associate dean for Internationalisation at Católica Porto Business School, Alexandra Leitão, the idea is to expose students to other realities. 'With these international experiences, we want to provide students with different perspectives and ways of thinking, promoting a global mindset that will be very important in our globalised economy,' she stressed.

The third edition took place in July at Católica Porto Business School. Over three weeks, the 40 participants were able to work on topics such as the Circular Economy, Leadership or Impact Investment and Social Impact Bonds, always with a focus on the interconnection between Sustainability and various issues that are critical today, with lectures given by heads of companies such as Sogrape and KPMG.

In addition to the classroom work, the summer school's programme included a visit to BIORBIS Portugal, a biotechnology company that has developed innovative research projects linked to agriculture and food, and a MasterClass on 'Disruptive Innovation Strategies & Exponential Organisations', with Diego Soroa, chief transformational officer at Capital Certainty and IE Business School lecturer, as the keynote speaker.

In July 2025, Católica Porto Business School will once again host the next edition of the Porto Sustainable Business Summer School, thus continuing the partnership with WU - Wirtschafts Universität Wien (Vienna University of Economics and Business) and the work carried out in the International Programmes area, which includes four more summer schools linked to Marketing and New Technologies.

Mário Macedo, alumnus of the School of Arts, wins the DCN Beers Grand Prize, worth two thousand euros, and is the new candidate for the European Film Awards, both of which are part of the International Competition of the 32nd edition of Curtas Vila do Conde International Film Festival.

According to the competition jury, That's how I love you is a short film that left no doubt. The film, made between Portugal and Croatia, is a co-production with Olhar de Ulisses which is a production company founded by directors André Guiomar and Luís Costa, EA alumni.

For more information about the film, visit the production company's website.