NOVA obtained approval for its application under the Recovery and Resilience Plan (RRP) which guaranteed a total funding of 12.9 million euros, excluding VAT, for the period 2021 – 2026. The total amount is split between Impulso Jovem STEAM (5,4 million euros) and Impulso Adult (7,4 million euros) components. The contract with DGES was signed on December 14, 2021.

The application presented – “CIVIC” and “GLOBAL”! – sought to respond to PRR's transversal concern with sustainable employability in a world in constant evolution, based on two pillars of NOVA's strategic plan for the next 10 years:

– CIVIC, promoting the values ​​of inclusion, equal opportunities, and sustainable development; serving the local, national, and global communities where it operates; and bringing together organizations of all types in developing collaborative impactful agendas

– GLOBAL, promoting global citizenship without borders between geographies, languages, ​​or cultures and working as a factor to attract talent from all over the world

NOVA’s application consisted of two main projects across the University

(1) “Transformative Learning for Future-Proofed Professionals” which addresses the skills gap emerging from the global challenges faced by modern Western societies – climate change and environmental degradation; sustainability of health systems in the context of population aging and social exclusion - comprising three initiatives – NOVA Health Academy, Skills for the Digital and Ecological Transitions and Arts & Tech for Social Innovation.

(2) “Organizational Transformation for Academic Success and Employability” which carries out a transversal implementation at the University of strategies and job creation systems centered on the student, promoting inclusion, and ensuring fair access to NOVA's proposals for programs and initiatives.

Information on the NOVA RRP is available here (page in Portuguese), and you can find more information here.