The NOVA Day 2025 ceremony, held last Friday, 21 November, at the Rectorate Auditorium on the Campolide Campus, in front of a full house, was marked by the encouraging words of Rector Paulo Pereira, who made a clear statement: “The university faces a time of change, transformation and uncertainty, but it is precisely in these moments that institutions reveal their true nature.”
Recalling that universities have “resisted wars, pandemics, economic crises and technological revolutions”, the Rector stressed that their mission remains unchanged: “to produce knowledge, educate citizens, promote critical thinking and help build fairer, more prosperous and freer societies.”
Finally, the Rector presented three strategic commitments for the coming years: strengthening NOVA’s identity by promoting greater collaboration between schools; valuing people through fairer careers and creative environments; and preparing the university for the future by investing in emerging areas, interdisciplinary research and technological and social innovation. Change, he assured, will be participatory: “There is no university without participation. There is no change without involvement. There is no future without commitment,” adding: “NOVA will be what we want it to be – and what we manage to achieve for it.”
Healthy mind in a healthy body
But the ceremony offered much more: art and culture – with poetry and philosophy intertwined – talent and sporting achievement, and recognition of pedagogical innovation at the university.
After the Rector, the stage belonged to Paulo Pires do Vale, Commissioner of the National Arts Plan and Visiting Lecturer at NOVA FCSH, who reinforced the importance of culture as a strategic axis for the University: “We believe that the place of culture within the University can be much greater, deeper and more transversal across all disciplinary areas.”
In a speech that quoted both poetry and philosopher Hannah Arendt, Paulo Pires do Vale reminded the audience that “building that common ground which is Culture is, like the university itself, an infinite task.”
Next came Vasco Mendes, a student-athlete from NOVA FCT who has carried NOVA’s name to numerous national and international podiums – and who, shortly afterwards, alongside other colleagues, received the Sports Merit Scholarship. His message to all student-athletes was simple and universal: “Keep studying and be happy!”
Awards for pedagogical innovation and insignia for new PhDs
The ceremony continued with the presentation of the Pedagogical Innovation Awards, which in this 2025 edition recognised projects that promote innovative methodologies in higher education.
The main prize was awarded to NOVA SBE for the project “Gamifying Calculus: The ‘Calculus of Thrones’ Experiment”, which transformed the teaching of calculus through gamification, encouraging collaboration, inclusion and reducing anxiety without compromising academic rigour.
In addition, three honourable mentions were awarded:
NOVA FCT: Thermodynamics for chemical engineers, using team-based learning to foster critical thinking and social skills;
NOVA School of Law: Hands-On Mediation, employing weekly roleplay to develop practical negotiation and mediation skills;
NOVA IMS: Think Like a Hacker to Protect Like a Cyber Engineer, bridging theory and practice in cybersecurity, inspiring new programmes and a Cyber War Room.
To conclude, insignia were presented to the new PhDs from each of NOVA’s schools and institutes.
