News

On November 25 and 26, 2024, the launch seminar for ArlekinPro (Erasmus+ Program / Action Type KA220-VET – Cooperation Partnerships in Vocational Education and Training) took place in Nantes.

Highlights from the first day of work included key items on the agenda: the general presentation of the project; an overview of the Social Mediation Program based on the ArlekinPro approach; a presentation of the ArlekinPro Platform by CeiED researcherElisabete Pinto da Costa; certification based on the ArlekinPro approach; a workshop on the five domains of mediation practices (where each organization shared key aspects of each theme); the dissemination and promotion of the project; and a presentation on quality control.

The second day primarily focused on discussing financial aspects (with online participation from Filipa Lourenço) and the working methodology.

The partners of the ArlekinPro project, in addition to CeiED and IPLUSO, are the CreE.A association from France, the EGREGOROS association from Belgium, the CEPAIM Foundation - Accion Integral Con Migrantes, the OPTIMA association from France, and the MOSAICO Association - Azioni per i Rifugiati from Italy.

The Revista Lusófona de Educação (RLE), founded in 2003 as an editorial project of the former Observatory of Education Policies and Educational Contexts (OPECE) at the Universidade Lusófona de Humanidades e Tecnologias, begins a new chapter with the formation of a new editorial team. Over the years, the journal has established itself as an important platform for the dissemination of scientific knowledge both nationally and internationally. It is now coordinated by an exclusively female team composed of researchers Cristina Sin, Elsa Estrela, Leanete Thomas Dotta, Vanessa Russo, and Lucimar Dantas, the latter remaining from the previous editorial team.

Throughout its history, RLE has been a space for the dissemination of scientific production in the field of Education Sciences, with a mission to promote Lusophony not as a space of nostalgia, but as a platform for solidarity and cooperation between academic communities that share a common language and the goals of internationalizing their scientific output. Over the years, the journal has adapted to become increasingly cosmopolitan, with publications in Portuguese, English, Spanish, and French, reaffirming its commitment to global scientific dissemination.

The new editorial team aims to further enhance the visibility of the journal, both nationally and internationally, following the footsteps of previous editors such as Maria Neves Gonçalves,José Viegas Brás, and Manuel Tavares Gomes, who held editorial responsibility for the RLE throughout the past decade, solidifying it as a key reference in the field of Education Sciences.

By continuing the work of its founding editors and former leaders, RLE remains committed to promoting social science that aims to “re-enchant” educational policies and practices, ensuring the universal right for all to learn, while respecting diversity and unity.

With this new editorial team, the journal is poised to continue its trajectory of excellence, expanding its academic presence and impact on the international stage.

On October 18 and 19, the first annual conference of ATLAS (Association of Teacher Leadership and Scholarship) took place under the theme "Empowering Teacher Leaders", organized by the University of Nevada, USA.

On October 19, this international conference featured a panel presented by Ana Paula Silva, a researcher at CeiED and professor at Universidade Lusófona: "Exploring Your Teacher Leadership Potential", with the participation of three of her doctoral and master's students. The panel was moderated by Professor André du Plessis (University of Pretoria, South Africa).

The panelists, Maria José Broeiro Gonçalves, Luísa Oliveira, and master's candidate Cristina Dagge Ribeiro, shared their experiences and journeys in becoming Educational Leaders. They also discussed the key moments and challenges they have encountered along the way.

The Interdisciplinary Research Center for Education and Development (CeiED) has announced the guidelines for the 5th edition of its internal funding program for Exploratory R&D Projects for 2024-2025. This initiative aims to support new research projects aligned with the unit’s strategic plan.

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.

On November 12, CeiED researcher João Robert Nogueira presented a paper in Seville at the International Conference of Education, Research, and Innovation. The presentation was titled: "How Does the ERASMUS+ Program Support the Sustainable Development Goals?"

This work was developed in collaboration with CeiED researchers Lucimar Dantas and Carla Galego, as well as Pedro Carmona Marques, a researcher from the Faculty of Engineering at Universidade Lusófona (CUL). The study stems from the participation of these four researchers in ERASMUS+ KA2 programs over the past two years.