From November 14 to 16, the Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences at the University of Porto hosted the 17th Congress of the Portuguese Society of Educational Sciences, under the theme "Education, Freedom, and Democracy."

One of the highlights was the panel presented by CeiED researchers Elsa Estrela, Rosa Serradas Duarte, Louise Lima, and Susana Oliveira, as part of the innovative ACT4WBeing project: "Participation and Democracy in Educational Processes: Effects of Curricular Autonomy on Teaching Professionalism." The panel also included researchers Sílvia de Almeida and Nádia Ferreira from the EDUNOVA.ISPA Research Center.

With four presentations, the panel explored curricular autonomy and its impact on teacher engagement and well-being. The topics covered included:

• ACT4WBeing – Curricular Autonomy and Teacher Engagement and Well-being
• ACT4WBeing – Curricular Autonomy and Teacher Engagement and Well-being: Perspectives from the Literature
• Curricular Autonomy and Teachers as Curriculum Designers
• Autonomy in Educational Processes: Understanding Reality to Support Improvement Processes

The event also featured Professor Rui Trindade, an external consultant for the project, who provided an initial assessment of the presented results, deeming the project highly relevant to the current historical context.

The four presentations focused on teaching professionalism, particularly regarding teachers' agency in curricular decision-making. It was a well-attended session, fostering insightful reflections that will inform the project's development and inspire future initiatives stemming from the network established during the event.