The overall objectives that guide CES activities of the CES are the following:

• To foster innovative epistemologies and methodologies, contributing to the development of critical thinking and to the construction of tools to undertake critical analysis of society.
• To stimulate an ecology of knowledges, acknowledging cultural diversity and articulating scientific knowledge with the knowledge produced by citizens and by social movements all over the world, at all levels of analysis – local, national, regional, international and global;
• To strengthen international cooperation with diverse organizations based in different parts of the world;
• To strengthen relations with the Global South, placing shared knowledge, mutual recognition and intercultural understanding at the forefront. Within this strategy, the Portuguese-speaking countries play a key role in promoting North-South and South-South dialogues;
• To boost science in society and for society, broadening citizens’ and civil society’s engagement in scientific culture and revitalizing human rights, bearing social groups under oppression, discrimination and exclusion in mind;
• To promote thematic PhD Programmes and advanced training activities at the cutting edge of the most pressing challenges for science;
• To promote research on culture and art and a critical evaluation of the past and of environmental issues as a means of advancing new ways of reflection and self-reflection on science, knowledge and society;
• To support the formulation of public policies through the development of applied research across a wide range of areas that have an impact on the well-being of societies.

On 23 January 2019, the Centre for Social Studies (CES) acceded to the SAGE Charter of Principles for Gender Equality - Systematic Action for Gender Equality, a project funded by the European Commission under Horizon 2020 which aims to stimulate measures. combat gender imbalances and promote gender knowledge in higher education and research institutions. Adherence to this Charter of Principles constitutes a commitment by CES to the principles of gender equality within the academic and research communities.