João Ventura, student at the Nova University of Lisbon Faculty of Law and Ridelgil Tavares, student at Lusíada University of São Tomé and Príncipe Faculty of Law have been awarded with two Honorable Mentions in the scope of Prémio Internacional VdAcademia Prize 2013. Both law students have stood out by their written papers on the subject proposed by the competition - "The crisis impact on public and private contracts".

'It is extremely rewarding for me to receive this Honorable Mention', said the student from São Tomé and Príncipe, 'I enjoy challenges and even if having not been awarded any prize, it would have been an honour to participate in a challenge launched by such a prestigious Law academy in the Portuguese speaking world'. João Ventura stressed how 'highly motivated' he felt to research and deliver a paper in order 'to be assessed by such a highly prestigious jury'.

This is the fourth edition of Prémio VdAcademia. The award was set up in 2010. In 2012 it widened its scope to include Mozambique by way of a partnership with ISCTEM and in 2013, enjoying a new partnership with Almedina publishers it further included Angola, Cape Verde and São Tomé and Príncipe.