Caixa Geral de Depósitos has honoured 600 students at the 8th edition of the Caixa Mais Mundo Awards, an initiative that recognises academic merit in accessing public higher education and in private Higher Education Institutions with an agreement with Caixa, reinforcing the institution's commitment to Education, equal opportunities and the valuing of young talent.

The awards ceremony took place on 11 May, at the Emílio Rui Vilar Auditorium, at Culturgest, in Lisbon, bringing together students, representatives from higher education institutions, and various personalities from academic, cultural, and business life.

Fernando Pessoa was represented by Dr. Hélder Ribeiro Pereira, a member of the Executive Board of the Fernando Pessoa Foundation.

Established in the 2018/2019 academic year, the Caixa Mais Mundo Awards are one of Caixa's leading initiatives in supporting education. Through the awarding of prizes and scholarships, they recognise the academic merit of students who have completed secondary education and encourage their continued studies in higher education.

Over the eight editions, the Caixa has already benefited 2,610 students, with a global investment exceeding 3 million euros, contributing to the promotion of equal opportunities in access to higher education and to the valuing of young talent in Portugal.

In the 2025/2026 edition, Caixa has fully maintained the overall support amount, the eligibility criteria from previous editions, and has ensured the renewal of scholarships awarded to students distinguished in previous editions, as defined in the respective Regulations.

The 8th edition of the Caixa Mais Mundo Awards featured the following categories:

• 150 Academic Merit Awards, worth €1,000 each, for students on Bachelor's degree courses or Higher Professional Technician Courses (CTeSP);
• 360 Scholarships for Needy Students, worth €1,500, distributed among 1st-year students and scholarship recipients from previous editions;
• 50 Merit Awards, worth €1,000 each, for students from Vocational Courses who have continued their studies in higher education;
• 40 Merit Awards, each worth €1,000, for students born in and holding the nationality of Portuguese-speaking countries, who have completed secondary education in Portugal and are currently attending higher education.

The awards cover students from public and private Higher Education Institutions across the country with a Caixa Protocol, reflecting the national reach of the initiative and the diversity of the Portuguese higher education system.

Among the distinguished students in this edition are also 14 students from Fernando Pessoa, who are part of the University and the School of Health.

A Fernando Pessoa congratula all the awarded students on this distinction and wishes them the greatest academic and professional success.