Católica-Lisbon SBE welcomed 800 new master’s students on August 27 and 28, marking the beginning of Hello Week, a week dedicated to helping students settle into the School and discover Lisbon, the city that, for many, will become their new home over the coming years.
The program included welcome sessions, academic activities, and opportunities to connect with one another, introducing students to the people, spaces, and resources that will be part of their journey at Católica-Lisbon SBE. For international students, who represent 75% of the Class of 2026, the week also marked their first contact with the city where they will live and study.
One of the highlights of Hello Week was a welcome reception with Carlos Moedas, Mayor of Lisbon. Addressing Católica-Lisbon SBE’s international community in particular, Carlos Moedas presented Lisbon as a city whose history has been shaped by the arrival and coexistence of different communities, a dimension that, he noted, remains an important part of Lisbon’s identity.
As he put it, “Lisbon can always be a safe harbor. And perhaps one of the most beautiful characteristics of this city is its ability, after six months, to make you feel that you also belong to Lisbon. This sense of belonging is extremely important and is part of our history, built more than 1,200 years before Christ through diversity and the encounter between different peoples.”
Filipe Santos, Dean of Católica-Lisbon SBE, and Kyryl Lakishyk, Dean for Master Programs, also welcomed the new students, sharing some of the dimensions that will shape their experience at the School.
Filipe Santos highlighted the role of knowledge, learning, and social impact in the students’ journey, challenging them to take an active role in addressing society’s challenges and to turn knowledge into action. Collaboration, ethical leadership, and innovation were also among the themes addressed during the welcome session.
Kyryl Lakishyk drew on a defining episode in Lisbon’s history, the reconstruction of the city following the 1755 earthquake, to speak about resilience, learning, and the ability to adapt. Addressing an academic community made up of students from different countries and backgrounds, he also emphasized the importance of engaging with different perspectives, working as a team, and finding a balance between high standards, performance, and well-being.
For the new students, the welcome week was a “positive” experience.
For Hamza Khouama, from Tunisia, the experience was “very positive,” from his arrival at the School to the Navigator Challenge, an activity that took students through the streets of Lisbon to solve a series of challenges as a team. “On my first day, I felt at home. The speeches by the Deans and the School teams made me feel very welcome from day one,” he says.
For Adrian Rochert, from Germany, the experience also “lived up to” his expectations for the start of his master’s program. “It was very interesting to hear the Deans’ perspectives and understand what we can expect from this experience,” he says. Reflecting on his decision to choose Católica-Lisbon SBE, he highlights the combination of the School and the city: “It is a recognized university located in Lisbon, a very beautiful city where I am enjoying living.”