The National Congress on Pedagogical Practices in Higher Education (CNaPPES) 2026, held on 9–10 July at the campus of the Polytechnic Institute of Cávado and Ave (IPCA) in Barcelos, once again established itself as one of Portugal’s leading national forums for reflection, dialogue and the dissemination of innovative pedagogical practices in higher education.
Bringing together academics, researchers, students and higher education professionals from both public and private universities and polytechnic institutions, the congress provided two days of collaborative learning, knowledge exchange and discussion focused on enhancing teaching and learning processes while promoting pedagogical excellence.
Private Higher Education Institutions (PHEIs) played a particularly significant role in this year’s edition through the submission of scientific papers, the presentation of pedagogical practices in parallel sessions, and active participation in several of the congress committees, demonstrating the sector’s continued contribution to innovation and transformation in Portuguese higher education.
Among the member institutions of APESP – the Portuguese Association of Private Higher Education represented at the congress were ISEC Lisboa – Higher Institute of Education and Sciences, ISPGAYA – Gaya Polytechnic Institute, and Universidade Portucalense. Their academic staff, students and researchers contributed to discussions on teaching methodologies, pedagogical innovation, learning assessment, and the development of more inclusive and effective learning environments.
The strong participation of private higher education institutions at CNaPPES 2026 reflects the sector’s ongoing commitment to academic quality, pedagogical innovation and the generation of knowledge that supports the continuous enhancement of educational practices. The substantial involvement of academic staff, professional staff and students also highlights a strong institutional culture of collaboration, knowledge sharing and the promotion of educational research.
APESP congratulates all its member institutions that participated in this edition of CNaPPES, acknowledging their valuable contribution to strengthening pedagogical excellence in Portuguese higher education and reaffirming the role of private higher education as an active partner in fostering an increasingly innovative, collaborative and student-centred higher education system.
