September brought new faces, new conversations and many firsts to Católica Porto School of Business and Economics. From 1 to 3 September, the School welcomed new undergraduate students through Empower Week. At the same time, on 1 and 2 September, new Master's students were welcomed as part of All Aboard. The first day also coincided with the launch of the School's new brand, making these welcome activities part of a new chapter for Católica Porto SBE.
With different programmes and rhythms, Empower Week and All Aboard shared a common purpose: to start experiencing the School from day one. There were team-building activities and challenges designed to help students get to know one another, sessions focused on developing soft skills, as well as time to simply talk and build their first connections.
The close relationship with faculty was evident from the very beginning. The Dean of Católica Porto SBE, João Pinto, the Associate Dean for Undergraduate Programmes, Helena Correia, and the Vice-Dean and Associate Dean for Master's Programmes, Paulo Alves, were present at different opening and welcome moments, including the Sunset Super Católica, which brought together students from both cycles of study.
Getting to know Porto was also part of the experience. Through activities around the city and informal moments together, students began to discover the place that will also be their city over the coming years. They also had the opportunity to discover the many ways of getting involved in School life, at a lunch with student organisations including the Católica Porto Investment Club, Católica Students' Consulting, the Students' Association, the tunas, student integration groups and CASO – Católica Solidária, part of UDIP- UCP Porto.
There was also an opportunity to hear from those who have already taken this journey. Afonso Camões, Rosário Mariz and Francisco Lúrio de Castro, alumni of the School, shared their experiences and career paths with undergraduate students. For Master's students, Daniel Araújo, Group Project Manager at Zendesk, returned to Católica Porto SBE to share his professional experience and answer the first questions from those just beginning their own journey.
As part of All Aboard, Master's students also had the opportunity to meet the directors of the five programmes — Audit and Taxation, Management, Finance, Marketing and Business Economics —, explore the School's mentoring programme and take part in sessions with the Career and Development Office, connecting their academic experience with professional challenges from the very beginning.
During Empower Week, learning also extended to sessions on Introduction to Business 1.0.1. and Global Outlook, while the final day included informal moments bringing students and families together. The closing event, which brought together students from the different Católica faculties in Porto in the School's gardens, with the presence of the Pro-Rector of Universidade Católica Portuguesa, Isabel Braga da Cruz, brought these first days to a close in a relaxed atmosphere, creating many of the first memories of this new journey.
And Empower Week is not over yet. On 9 and 10 September, new students will come together again for “Acolher, Pintar e Transformar”, an initiative by CASO – Católica Solidária dedicated to volunteering.
Because welcome starts on the first day, but the experience of being part of Católica Porto SBE is built throughout the journey.
