Special and Inclusive Education Project in São Tomé and Príncipe
Within the scope of her Postdoctoral research, Isabel Piscalho (Polytechnic Institute of Santarém, Digital Literacy and Social Inclusion Hub – CIAC) is currently developing the project “Special and Inclusive Education – Training and Research (EEIFI): Educational Practices in Overcrowded Classrooms in São Tomé and Príncipe.” This initiative aims to promote inclusive and equitable educational practices, with a focus on supporting teachers and education professionals in managing diversity in large classroom settings. The project combines both training and research dimensions, contributing to the development of more inclusive education systems. The project is being carried out in close collaboration with local partner institutions in São Tomé and Príncipe: University of São Tomé and Príncipe – Higher Institute of Education and Communication (ISEC-USTP) Ministry of Education, Culture, Science and Higher Education – São Tomé and Príncipe Instituto Marquês de Valle Flôr This partnership reflects a joint commitment to strengthening the quality of education and fostering inclusive educational environments across the country.
Successful Completion of the FOREU4ALL Initiatives and Accelerate GenAI Conference: A Step Toward the Future of Digital Higher Education
The FOREU4ALL Initiatives and Accelerate GenAI Conference, held on May 26th, 2025, at Santarém Polytechnic University, gathered more than 100 participants in a hybrid format—both in person and online—to discuss the transformative role of Generative Artificial Intelligence in higher education across Europe. Over 20 distinguished speakers from various universities, research centers, technology companies, and international organizations delivered insightful talks and hands-on workshops across five thematic panels. Topics covered included the ethical use of AI, innovative teaching methodologies, European university alliances, the future of the European Degree Label, and the evolution of AI-based learning tools. Participants praised the practical AI skill sessions, especially those focused on instructional design, ethical governance, and the integration of cutting-edge tools like ChatGPT, Gemini, and Google’s NotebookLM. The event also highlighted the contributions of students and young researchers, showcasing their innovative projects and perspectives on the future of education. The overall feedback was highly positive, with attendees describing the conference as “informative,” “forward-thinking,” and “practically useful.” The demand for future editions of this conference was clear, as many participants expressed a strong interest in more hands-on workshops and deeper exploration of AI’s role in education and research. A comprehensive Conference Handbook, summarizing key discussions, presentations, and outcomes, has been published and is now available for consultation: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.15646939 We look forward to organizing future editions of this conference, continuing the dialogue on the ethical, innovative, and practical uses of AI in education, research, and social inclusion.
EPALE
Welcome to EPALE! Thank you very much for taking the time to register on EPALE. Your account has been activated and you can now connect with and learn from adult learning professionals throughout Europe. What can I do on EPALE? Now that you are a member of the EPALE community you have access to a huge range of content and features on the platform. EPALE members can: • Keep up to date with the latest news, events and activities. • Be inspired by blogs, stories and insights from the community. • Access free online training for professional development. • Get good practice resources to help improve your training. • Promote your content and share your opinions on key issues.. • Find partners and opportunities for Erasmus+ projects. The EPALE Community is waiting for you, so why not login and get started! We look forward to meeting you on the platform very soon.
Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) Doctoral Networks 2025 Call
Dear Researchers, We hereby inform you that the Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) will organize an information session dedicated to the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) Doctoral Networks 2025 Call, which will remain open until November 25, 2025. This Horizon Europe instrument aims to fund consortia of institutions for the creation of international doctoral programmes. The session will be held exclusively online, on June 23, starting at 10:00 AM, with an expected duration of one hour. Mandatory registration at:https://videoconf-colibri.zoom.us/meeting/register/S6EphVN6R5i_2S3GHrEkxw More information at:https://www.fct.pt/fct-organiza-sessao-informativa-sobre-o-concurso-msca-doctoral-networks-2025/ MSCA Doctoral Networks 2025 Call The MSCA Doctoral Networks implement doctoral programmes through partnerships between universities, research institutions and infrastructures, companies — including SMEs — and other socio-economic actors from different European and non-European countries. The MSCA Doctoral Networks are indeed open to the participation of organisations from third countries, with the aim of fostering strategic international partnerships for researcher training and study. These doctoral programmes respond to well-identified needs in various R&I fields, exposing researchers to both academic and non-academic sectors and providing training in both research-related and transferable skills relevant to long-term innovation and employability (e.g., entrepreneurship, results exploitation, intellectual property rights, communication). Proposals for Doctoral Networks may reflect existing or planned research partnerships among participating organisations. Indicative Timeline May 28, 2025: Call opening November 25, 2025: Proposal submission deadline April 2026: Notification of call results to applicants (to be confirmed) July 2026: Grant agreement signature for successful projects (to be confirmed) August 2026: Start of the first EU-funded projects (to be confirmed)
SciPROJ Portal: The new FCT service for researching Scientific Funding in Portugal.
The Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT), through its digital services unit FCCN, has launched the SciPROJ Portal, a resource integrated into the PTCRIS program that brings together all information on scientific funding in one place, with quick and flexible access. SciPROJ is a registry that compiles detailed information on both national and international funding supporting science and technology activities carried out in Portugal. Through the SciPROJ Portal, researchers, institutions, and the general public can obtain a unified and comprehensive view of science and technology funding in Portugal, including data such as funding amounts, researchers, and involved institutions. In addition, the SciPROJ API provides programmatic access to SciPROJ data, enabling access to a wide range of detailed information on funding, projects, researchers, and organizations. By aggregating data from multiple sources on science and technology, these platforms offer a broad view of the investments made and the key actors involved, fostering transparency and collaboration within the national scientific ecosystem. With automatic updates and continuous data enrichment, the information is normalized and integrated, ensuring consistency and reliability for in-depth analysis and monitoring of scientific funding in Portugal. To date, the Portal already includes over 108,000 records, with information from five funding agencies and 19 different types of funding instruments. This is a PTCRIS service co-financed by the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PRR). All information is available on the SciPROJ Portal.
ARTECH 2025 – 12th International Conference on Digital and Interactive Art
ARTECH 2025 – 12th International Conference on Digital and Interactive Art, which this year is themed “Culture, Communities, and Territories of Media Art”. It is organized by our colleagues from the University of Minho, through CECS – the Communication and Society Research Centre, and the School of Architecture, Art and Design. ARTECH 2025 will take place on the Gualtar campus in Braga, from November 26–28, 2025. This international conference, held biennially in both Portuguese and English, is an event of CIAC, with which it has been associated since the 2012 edition. Since 2017, its proceedings have been indexed in the ACM/Scopus databases. You can find more information on the official website:https://2025.artech-international.org/
International Conference: FOREU4ALL Initiatives and Accelerate GenAI takes place on May 26 in Santarém
On May 26th, 2025, the FOREU4ALL INITIATIVES AND ACCELERATE GENAI conference will be held at Auditorium I of the School of Education, Polytechnic Institute of Santarém, with both on-site and remote participation (via Zoom). This event is part of the ACE2EU FOREU4ALL initiatives and is supported by strategic European alliances (Colours, NEOLAiA), the international METARED network, the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology, CIAC-PLDIS, and AI and Ethics experts. With over 20 speakers from across Europe, the program includes thematic panels, hands-on AI workshops, protocol signings, and networking opportunities. Each speaker will present in their native language, reflecting Europe’s rich cultural and linguistic diversity. This conference is a milestone in promoting European cooperation in digital literacy, educational innovation, and the ethical integration of AI into academic institutions. Registration: https://www.forms.gle/5rxJ5LRSFd8AsNiA6 Zoom ID: 918 5395 3635
Digital Literacy and Social Inclusion Hub receives “Very Good” rating from FCT
On April 15th, the Digital Literacy and Social Inclusion Hub of the Polytechnic Institute of Santarém proudly received the news of its “Very Good” rating from the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT). This recognition highlights the quality of the work carried out in promoting digital literacy, social inclusion, and scientific innovation, reinforcing the Hub’s commitment to excellence in research and social impact. More information
Conversation on Strategy, policies and institutional regulations on AI applied to teaching
Conversation on Strategy, policies and institutional regulations on AI applied to teaching. First experiences in Iberoamerican HEIs. happening on the next 3rd of April, at 15:00 UTC. Find all the information here
ANOTHER 1st PLACE!
This time, with an AI-powered cane for visually impaired people. Congrats!