Sendo a Católica uma escola de topo, reconhecida e premiada internacionalmente, e através de referências de antigos alunos, o PAGAP foi uma escolha natural de evolução pessoal e profissional. A importância, diversidade e atualidade dos temas abordados fazem desta formação uma mais valia na compreensão de procedimentos e resultados que formam a Gestão de Projetos, ensinados por um experiente corpo docente, sempre muito acessível e colaborante. O networking e a partilha de experiências e conhecimentos com colegas de diversas áreas, enriqueceram, em paralelo, toda a aprendizagem técnica.

PAGAP was such a privilege as it allowed me the contact with what I consider to be the most stimulating: the faculty and its technical skills as well as its practical application. Regarding its importance, I also value the exchange of experiences and knowledge among fellow colleagues. I am sure that the level of acquired knowledge will become even more valuable in the tasks I will be required to do in the future. I recommend PAGAP to all Directors and Senior Professionals who participate in Business Projects.

The PAGAP experience overcame my expectations. The excellent module organization, both in the theoretical and practical components, and the vast market and teaching experience of the faculty allowed me to get a wide range of knowledge, of which I must emphasize a set of tools and methodologies which are essential to help us reach our goals in any project. Also, I must highlight the participant diversity and very different professional paths, which allowed a very enriching exchange of ideas and experiences. In a globalized professional world, where companies have evolved to cross-sectional frameworks organized by project, this program becomes mandatory.

As a project manager responsible for implementing ERPs, my participation in the PAGAP allowed me to develop and update my professional and academic knowledge, opening up new horizons and perspectives with regard to everyday activities, about which we sometimes made decisions as a matter of routine. It was undoubtedly a gratifying experience and was an important tool for my professional career, transforming an enriching challenge into a winning proposition. On the other hand, it provided me with the means and tools necessary to prepare for my PMP Certificate issued by the PMI. Today, having already been certified, I have a far clearer and more practical understanding of all the basic processes of Project Management. The course is an asset for our day-to-day activities considering the way it helps map best practices and standards in the field of project management, in an increasingly demanding environment.

Attending PAGE was an enriching experience at various levels. As Project Manager, I was able to strengthen a more conventional management knowledge such as risk management and budget control, with courses such as Agile Methodologies, Design Thinking and through contact with IT tools to support integrated project management as the MsProject. This program covers many fields, all of which are important for modern project management in multiple contexts and prepare us to face change and team project management.

A complete and coherent program with contributions that cover useful and essential aspects of project management and evaluation. I highlight the evident applicability of the theoretical concepts, as well as the added value brought by the different backgrounds of the participants, that allowed the exchange and sharing of different professional experiences, which gave the program great diversity and character.

The rapid changes that take place in an increasingly complex world also make it necessary for organisations to adapt quickly and public enterprises are no exception to the rule. Their survival and success depend on a sustained development, which cannot be obtained without a strong emphasis on motivating employees to acquire skills and update their performance, by upgrading with new knowledge components. Given the challenges involved in developing new railway projects, the PAGAP allowed me to consolidate knowledge and techniques in the field of project management, since it encompasses the areas of operational and financial management and behavioural aspects associated with managing teams, complementing my technical training very effectively. The program encompasses areas that provide participants with skills that allow them to view organisations from a global perspective and act accordingly. It is a valuable tool for new forms of action owing to the updated and practical manner in which subjects are taught. The greatest added value was sharing experiences and knowledge with the teaching faculty and colleagues from the most diverse areas. The program was thus an enriching challenge that provided me with tools and know-how, preparing me for the great changes that will perforce occur in public enterprises as well, namely in terms of new ways of performing.

For those of us who already work in project management, the PAGAP program leverages the acquired know-how and knowledge through the systematization and use of proven tools and techniques that allow immediate application in real life. The added value comes, not only from the excellent program structure, organization and academia component, but also from the variety of case studies presented by the teaching staff, as a result of their extensive market experience from previous projects, giving each participant a new perspective in project design and culture.

Nowadays, education is crucial; as crucial as it is to reconcile it with any professional activity that increasingly demands more and more of us. Through PAGAP, I was able to gain access to a very specific core of knowledge that would otherwise be inaccessible to me. The contact with several Management themes, some of them in considerable depth, the high quality faculty, the sessions in Évora and the interaction with the participants are plenty of reasons to advise all those who are involved in Project Management to take this program.

In PAGAP we learn various topics which allow us to have a new insight into diverse situations that are very useful in the many tasks performed by Project Managers. PAGAP gives us tools which can become essential to overcome difficult situations and reach goals in the most challenging projects.

After many years of leading projects in all their varied stages I came to the conclusion that while all projects have a head or a director not all heads/directors are necessarily project managers. It is necessary to demystify the idea that managing a project simply entails overseeing costs and that the success of a project depends on being done within the budget. This program was important in order to clarify, develop and systematise what I had already learnt from experience. I think that those who call themselves project managers but are not yet suitably skilled and those who wish to be project managers should attend this course to realise that projects are managed with teams and in a team there are no unimportant activities. We live in a world of constant change and intense competition and hence well-defined strategies, quality, efficient organisation, planning and control, risk management and leadership, which result in a commitment to continuous improvement, are what make the difference.

I really enjoyed participating in PAGAP. The Faculty was composed of very skilled people, given they were able to teach in an outstanding way, balancing the fundamental theoretical component regarding the origin of project management, and adapting it to the daily context that currently exists in companies. It seems to me that we completed the program with valuable tools that add value to each workplace.

Since I work in a multinational company, every year I see that change constantly occurs. New applications, methodologies, processes and strategies keep appearing, with a view to doing more and doing things better - everything to serve our clients by providing the best quality possible. Teams are formed for all these initiatives so as to implement them better and ensure the necessary follow-up. I have often been involved in many of these projects owing to my professional functions. When I joined the PAGAP I aimed to improve my level of knowledge so as to improve the quality and performance of these projects. However, I found far more than that at the PAGAP. In addition to a very complete and balanced program, I found a set of professors who had both academic and professional experience, who motivated us and gave us the space to develop our skills. Thus, during classes we discussed best practices and practical cases and were provided with materials and bibliography that allowed us to develop them. This is the only way to achieve a rapid learning process, which, balanced with our professional activities, produces a change in attitude during such a short span of time while imparting the knowledge that enables us to be even better professionals. This course was also an excellent opportunity to exchange experiences with other participants from very diverse areas and with very interesting experiences, which perfectly complemented the classes and the professors. For all these reasons I am very happy that I chose the PAGAP and would not hesitate to recommend it to all professionals who work in the field of projects, irrespective of whether these are simple or complex ventures.

A principal razão porque escolhi o PAGAP teve como base a necessidade pessoal de certificar os conhecimentos e de alguma forma alicerçar o meu desenvolvimento na atividade de gestão de projetos. O balanço que faço é extremamente positivo, isto porque aliado à credibilidade do programa, à equipa docente, e à troca de experiências de vida, acabo no fim por sentir que todas as expetativas que tive foram de facto alcançadas.

I decided to take the PAGAP with the aim to complement, essentially, my technical education, in the context of project management offered by a university with quality recognition, such as CATÓLICA LISBON. It was a privilege to be able to share experiences in this scope, with Professors that are a reference in the areas they lecture and/or in which they develop their professional activity. This is the only way to access the best case studies and “state of the art” tools. The multidisciplinary and relaxed environment allows participants to exchange enriching experiences, allowing, in a very short time, a favourable dynamic learning and personal development. It is a “must” for those with a career in Project Management or who simply need to complement their technical career.

People talk a lot about project management. In the PAGAP you are challenged to improve processes in the important variables: innovation, technology but also people, investment and obviously the risk. All of this happens in an exceptional environment, where we have group work with people from various areas of knowledge and which are clearly motivated in acquiring new skills and share experiences. PAGAP is an enriching program and I truly recommend it.