Today, March 1st, Católica Lisbon School of Business & Economics will publicly launch its fundraising campaign for the new Católica campus in Lisbon – the Veritati Campus – integrated into the global campaign of the Universidade Católica Portuguesa "Together We Shape the Future", at an event that will take place at Pátio da Galé, in Lisbon, starting at 7:30 pm.
According to Isabel Capeloa Gil, Rector of Universidade Católica, "the chosen motto for the campaign: 'Together We Shape the Future' aims to share that this is not only a project of the University, but of all who are part of this community and all who believe in our educational and scientific project, recognize its impact and identify with the values we profess. It is for all those who want to build the future with us."
The new Veritati Campus represents an investment of around 120 million euros and is expected to be completed in 2027. The project includes the construction of two new buildings: one to accommodate Católica Lisbon School of Business & Economics (CATÓLICA-LISBON), doubling its capacity with higher quality, and a multifunctional building that will house the Rectorate, a large Conference Center, and a set of knowledge centers and interfaces with companies. It also encompasses the redevelopment of the currently existing buildings and their entire external surroundings. The bold architectural project created by Architect Carrilho da Graça expresses the vision and ambitious manner in which the University aims to shape the future.
For Filipe Santos, Dean of CATÓLICA-LISBON, ranked as the 22nd best Business School in Europe, "in three years, the School will have the infrastructure and means to be increasingly at the forefront of research and teaching in the areas of Management and Economics, generating greater impact on society. The new CATÓLICA-LISBON building will allow for doubling the current physical capacity with modern facilities that will ensure the growth of the School and its various activities, responding to the growing demand for excellence in education, both nationally and internationally. This building will be ecologically sustainable and cutting-edge in terms of teaching methods and classroom environment, allowing ample space for students to study and socialize."
Overall, the development of the School will bring significant benefits to the University and strengthen Lisbon's position as a hub of high-quality international education and research. "This will attract business talents and have an impact on Portuguese society and businesses. Furthermore, it will contribute to a global world, educating business leaders and competent and ethical citizens, as well as promoting research on socially relevant topics aligned with the global sustainable development agenda," reinforces Filipe Santos.
The two new buildings will have more than 20,000 square meters of usable academic space, allowing for the relocation of CATÓLICA-LISBON, doubling its current capacity and substantially increasing the quality of its facilities. But the new Veritati Campus will also allow for the expansion of the Faculties of the Universidade Católica Portuguesa, located at its headquarters in Lisbon, integrated into a renewed University Campus, with green and sustainable spaces. This is because the project being developed by the UCP aims to develop an entire sustainable campus, oriented towards future challenges. This means creating collaborative spaces and integrating knowledge driven by technological innovation and meeting the needs of a cosmopolitan, culturally diverse student population, and highly adapted to technological transformations. The project responds to the increase in university activity (expansion of the number of programs, scientific and technological activities, students, and teachers) and to the growing demand from Católica nationally and internationally in areas such as Economics and Management, Health, Law, Humanities, Social Communication, Political Science, and Social Sciences.
The overall project also involves removing cars from the surface of the current campus to a new three-level underground parking in the new buildings. This will allow for the conversion of the current outdoor parking into a pleasant campus area, with green spaces where students can work and socialize.
Overall, the capacity of the Lisbon headquarters of Universidade Católica will increase by over 40%, with a significant overall improvement in the quality of the facilities. There will be an integration of both sides of the Lisbon campus, making the entire campus greener and more sustainable.
This project is strategic for Universidade Católica, driving forward the University's areas of academic excellence. It thus reinforces the impact of the University on higher education, science, and technology, creating social and economic value for Portugal and Europe as a whole.
Who is the fundraising campaign targeting?
The Portuguese Catholic University is a public utility institution, non-profit, and without state funding. It provides public service oriented towards teaching, research, and community service, developing with this project one of the largest investments ever made in higher education in the country. The fundraising campaign is aimed at all those who identify with the Catholic project for the country and considers various donation models. In the case of the campaign now publicly launched by CATÓLICA-LISBON, in addition to the priority objective of financing the construction of the Veritati Campus, there are also lines of support for investment in School Knowledge and Innovation, as well as scholarship programs for high-achieving students.
All donations, regardless of their value, will be recognized, with different recognition options available, such as the possibility of naming spaces on the new Campus for significant donors.
This campaign will be in effect until the end of 2027, by which time it is expected that the Veritati Campus will be in full operation.