Universidade Católica Portuguesa is launching UCP4SUCCESS, with the aim of promoting student success and tackling university abandonment.

This launch leverages UCP initiatives such as Gabinete PROTEUS, implemented at the Lisbon campus, and coordinated by Prof. Susana Costa Ramalho, and with Prof. Joana Carneiro Pinto and Prof. Cátia Branquinho on the technical team, professors in the scientific area of Psychology at FCH-Católica.

Funded by the Direção-Geral do Ensino Superior and the Plano de Recuperação e Resiliência, UCP4SUCCESS follows a collaborative model, bringing together professors and researchers from the four Católica campi: Lisbon, Porto, Braga and Viseu.

With a particular focus on students enrolling for the first time in higher education, but designed for the entire academic community, this project encompasses a set of six initiatives. These include the creation of an intelligent system to identify the risk of students dropping out of school and the development of an interactive portal with information and support resources for students and teachers.

It also aims to encourage more experienced students to mentor younger colleagues, both socially and academically, through Peer Mentoring, as well as promoting Tutoring by Professors, offering personalised guidance.

Recognising the difficulties that students face in the transition to higher education, the project plans to reward effort and progress in the first year of a degree through the UCP4SUCCESS Scholarships. The sixth and final initiative is linked to the promotion of cultural activities, which also strengthens integration and bonding between students.

Phase zero of this project, which took place in May this year, was based on a survey of the students and teaching staff needs. The next stages of the project include the presentation of the regulations and application processes for the UCP4SUCCESS Scholarships, the training of Mentors and the launch of cultural activities on the four campi.