FLAD will fund up to 30 thousand euros each of four projects of Portuguese Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) that aim to develop partnerships for their internationalization, in partnership with universities in the United States. This support will be granted under the UP – Higher Education Program, created by FLAD to promote and encourage the internationalization of Portuguese Higher Education Institutions.

In this edition of UP, the jury selected four internationalization projects of Portuguese HEIs that demonstrate a commitment to promoting deeper institutional ties between institutions in Portugal and the United States, and with the internationalization of their institutions.

The distinguished institutions are the Catholic University of Portugal, the Faculty of Human Sciences (FCH) – Catholic University of Portugal, the NOVA Information Management School (NOVA IMS) – New University of Lisbon and ISPGAYA , which will develop several projects in partnership with American universities.

Learn more about the projects:

LINK Project – Catholic University of Portugal and Boston College

Brief explanation about the project:

The LINK – Leadership in Nursing Knowledge Exchange project is the result of a strategic partnership between the Catholic University of Portugal (UCP) and Boston College (USA). Its main objective is to strengthen international collaboration in doctoral education in Nursing, through joint curriculum development, faculty and student mobility, and collaborative research.LINK is based on shared values and a commitment to training nursing leaders capable of responding to global health challenges. Activities include intensive training sessions (“Winter” and “Summer School“), planning of COIL (Collaborative Online International Learning) modules, co-supervision of doctoral students, joint scientific production, and the creation of a Global Nursing Innovation Lab, consolidating a lasting cooperation model between the two universities.

Regarding the relevance for the internationalization of the institution:

The LINK project is aligned with the strategic plan for the internationalization of UCP and SACRU (Strategic Alliance of Catholic Research Universities). By establishing a structured cooperation with Boston College, a world reference in training and research in Nursing, UCP also consolidates its position as a European leader in doctoral training in Nursing and promotes the circulation of knowledge, talent and good pedagogical practices.
This partnership also contributes to the international recognition of science produced in Portugal, expanding opportunities for joint scientific publications, international co-supervision and academic mobility, in a movement that values the central position of Nursing in the transformation of health systems at a global level.

 

Dual degree in Emerging Media and Digital Transformation

Brief explanation about the project:

The project is the result of a collaboration between the Faculty of Human Sciences of the Catholic University of Portugal and the College of Communication and Information of Kent State University. It aims to offer a double master’s degree with an interdisciplinary curricular plan, at the intersection of media studies with computing and programming. It is an innovative course that will train masters with an in-depth knowledge of the media ecosystem and able to shape the future of digital media. The course combines social theory with programming, data analysis and information visualization and will allow the production of master’s dissertations based on research work developed in Portugal and the United States of America.

Regarding the relevance for the internationalization of the institution:

The project is aligned with the internationalization strategy of the Universidade Católica Portuguesa, which has as one of its axes the creation of innovative international training offers, namely in the areas of communication and digital transformation and data analysis. At a time when the University has been increasing the number of students from North America, this project will consolidate the relationship that has been established with a long-standing partner in the United States. At the same time, the Master’s Degree in Emerging Media and Digital Transformation reinforces the commitment that Universidade Católica Portuguesa has been making in expanding the offer of interdisciplinary courses that foster the development of a wide range of skills.

 

AI-Driven Local Governance

Brief explanation about the project:
AI-Driven Local Governance is a program aimed at senior local government leaders, developed in partnership between NOVA Cidade – Urban Analytics Lab, of the NOVA Information Management School (NOVA IMS) of the New University of Lisbon, and The Governance Lab (The GovLab) of New York University (NYU), two reference institutions in research and innovation in smart cities and data-driven public policies. The objective of the program is to provide the strategic, analytical and technological skills for the entire cycle of public policy definition and implementation, maximizing the potential of information management, data science and artificial intelligence in a governance context leveraged by artificial intelligence.
The program, which kicks off with a public event “AI-Driven Local Governance”, is structured in two phases: a component in Portugal, taught in a hybrid format jointly by the two partner institutions, and an immersive week in New York, with sessions in prestigious entities such as the United Nations, Cornell Tech and the NYC Office of Technology and Innovation. under the guidance of The GovLab and with the monitoring of the NOVA Cidade team.
In line with the National Strategy for Smart Territories (ENTI), AI-Driven Local Governance fosters the creation of smart territories, capable of overcoming inequalities in digital maturity and contributing to the improvement of quality of life, people’s well-being and sustainable economic development.

Regarding the relevance for the internationalization of the institution:
AI-Driven Local Governance reinforces the international positioning of NOVA Information Management School (NOVA IMS) through a strategic partnership with The Governance Lab (The GovLab), at New York University (NYU). The project brings together two reference institutions in research and in the application of data and artificial intelligence to the improvement of public governance, promoting a collaborative approach to the empowerment of local leaders in a world driven by technology and scientific evidence.

Combining NOVA IMS’s experience in data science and smart territory management with the work developed by The GovLab in public policy innovation and ethical use of data and artificial intelligence, the program creates a platform for learning and international cooperation that brings Portugal and the United States closer together around a common vision: putting knowledge at the service of a more informed, transparent and people-centred governance.

 

The development of soft skills in an international context: ISPGAYA / MSUB cooperation

Brief explanation about the project:

The project results from the existing cooperation between ISPGAYA (PT) and MSUB (USA) and its main objective is the implementation of an active teaching methodology that allows the development of soft skills in the participating students of both institutions. Students will be challenged to, together and duly supervised by professors from both institutions, develop an internationalization project for companies on both sides of the Atlantic, which intend to operate in both markets.

Regarding the relevance for the internationalization of the institution:

ISPGAYA’s internationalization plan comprises five operational axes. Namely:

– EI1: International Mobility

– EI2: Academic and Scientific Cooperation

– EI3: Internationalization at Home

– EI4: Attracting and Welcoming International Students

– EI5: International Image and Communication

This project contributes to four of these axes. It allows the mobility of teachers and staff of the institution, as this is a fundamental component of the project itself. It boosts the academic and scientific cooperation between ISPGAYA and MSUB, because in addition to the joint UC, the development of a scientific article reporting the entire initiative is planned. It also contributes to internationalization at home, by “taking advantage” of the visit of MSUB students and teachers at ISPGAYA. Finally, it enhances the international image of the institution, and FLAD’s support also contributes significantly to this aspect.