On 3 and 4 June, Católica Porto Business School welcomed dozens of representatives from partner universities around the world for the first edition of International Partners Days. The event brought together professionals from the international higher education sector in an environment of sharing, collaboration and joint construction of solutions to the current challenges facing business schools.
Over two days, participants reflected on topics such as global strategy, accreditations, academic mobility and innovation in executive training. One of the most memorable moments was the speech by the president of the Bernardo da Costa Group, Ricardo Costa, who is also a member of the Societal Advisory Board of Católica Porto Business School. The entrepreneur shared his vision on the impact of happiness on organisational performance, inspiring the audience with his experience of having created the first Happiness Department in Portugal in 2017. Some of the initiatives included over the course of the days were a team-building activity with the Career Development Office, a sailing experience on the Douro River, a dinner at a panoramic restaurant, and a visit to the Caves Ferreira wine cellars.
The meeting allowed for the deepening of institutional relationships and opened up new opportunities for collaboration. For Raquel Correia, head of the Global Education Office, it was essential to welcome partners to the campus to exchange ideas and strengthen ties. Rita Ribeiro, associate dean for internationalisation, also emphasised the importance of creating spaces like this, where experiences are shared and the common challenges of internationalisation in higher education are discussed.
With International Partners Days, Católica Porto Business School laid the foundations for future collaborations, reinforcing the school's commitment to shaping global higher education through effective cooperation and the exchange of best practices.
