The morning of December 4, 2025, began with the rhythmic sound of conversations filling the lobby of the Pavilhão de Portugal at Parque das Nações, in Lisbon, for the 4th edition of “Bem-Vind@ ao Técnico”, the annual welcome event for new hires.
At the opening session, Cláudia Jacinto, Head of Human Resources at Técnico, reinforced the strategic purpose of the initiative. “This day has been designed and developed for you”, she said, emphasising the importance of “celebrating the retention of existing employees and the acquisition of new talent” as part of the “institution’s mission and sustainability.”
A spirit of closeness marked the beginning of the event, which kicked off with the “Pair up” icebreaker activity. In just three minutes, each participant looked for the colleague with whom they shared the most characteristics. Amid discussions about pets, career paths, and personal preferences, spontaneous conversations began about sports rivalries, dream trips, and past experiences. For Celine Mestre, who joined the Statistics and Planning Department at Técnico in June, the exercise was important. “It’s difficult to pick a single moment, but this type of dynamic allows us to be part of a whole. The feeling of belonging is very important in an institution”, she shared, confessing that she “missed having a welcome event in a community as large as Técnico’s.”
The morning continued with the “Volta ao Técnico em 90 minutos”, (“90-minute Tour of Técnico”), which provided an opportunity to present teams and services, highlighting the “importance of proximity between people and services” and the need to facilitate collaboration in everyday academic and administrative life. The morning ended with the “Batalha de Coordenadores” (“Battle of Coordinators”), which tested participants’ memory and attention to the information shared throughout the session.
In the early afternoon, the activity moved outdoors. Parque das Nações became the setting for “Pata Paper,” an outdoor course that combined quizzes, orientation, and photographic records. The teams explored the area, answered questions, and tried to complete the challenges in the shortest time possible. For some, it was an “opportunity to deepen bonds created just a few hours earlier”. For others, such as Sara Teixeira, who joined the Water Laboratory at Instituto Superior Técnico (LAIST) a year ago, the day was the sum of the moments experienced: “Getting to know colleagues was essential. I can’t choose a particular moment: we have to see this day as a whole. It was the work of a team that made it possible, and we must value all the people who prepared it”.
At the end of the day, the group returned to Pavilhão de Portugal for the closing session. Rogério Colaço, president of Técnico, reinforced the role of the School and the people who contribute to it every day: “Técnico was created with the purpose of training and empowering people to develop our society economically. This is our mission. There is no Técnico without people”.
Maria Jorge, from the Alumni Career Development Unit, also reflected on the impact of collaborative dynamics. The interaction between groups throughout the day helped to create an atmosphere of trust from early on. “Through teamwork and effective coordination, it was possible to deconstruct the idea of fear of making mistakes and create an environment that encourages exploration and curiosity”, she shared, suggesting that future follow-ups could “further strengthen the bonds created in this first interaction.”
“This day was designed to introduce people, services, and internal dynamics of our institution. Técnico reinforced the importance of integrating and involving those who join our community and the daily life that sustains it”, said Ana Lucas, head of the Well-being and People Development Division.
