The SAPIEN – South and Atlantic Pedagogical Innovation & Excellence Network project represents a decisive step towards the modernisation and excellence of teaching at NOVA NSPH and across the South and Atlantic region of Portugal. It is part of the South and Atlantic Consortium, which brings together nine Higher Education Institutions, covering 53 organisational units and approximately 66,000 students, across a geographic area representing 40% of the national territory, including the autonomous regions of the Azores and Madeira.

The SAPIEN Centre of Excellence (CE) acts as a catalyst for pedagogical innovation and excellence, ensuring the sustainability of investments beyond the project’s funding period.

Main Objectives

• Develop an institutional culture that values teaching, encouraging continuous investment in pedagogical development by faculty;
• Create innovative, modern, and technologically advanced learning environments, integrating digital resources and real-life scenario simulations;
• Promote professional development of faculty through initial and continuous training, communities of practice, and research on teaching and assessment methodologies;
• Implement a student-centred pedagogical model, fostering relevant learning and the development of transversal and disciplinary competencies;
• Establish the Pedagogical Innovation Hub, a collaborative digital platform that enhances knowledge sharing and best practices among faculty and institutions.

The operation of the Centre of Excellence is ensured through the involvement of all partner institutions, emphasising active student participation and the contribution of an Advisory Board composed of nationally and internationally recognised experts. Dissemination of results includes the organisation of conferences, sharing of resources, and digital publications, ensuring the project’s impact and continuity beyond the funding period.