In a time dominated by technology and the high volume of data, Data Science provides information, through automated learning and artificial intelligence, which is essential for organizations and companies to make the best management decisions.

“Collecting data, preparing it, using it in mathematical and computational models, changing and repeating, this is the procedure for applying Data Science in organizations and in the business world. But how does this happen in practice? What are the challenges faced and the solutions found? What is the relevance of the results obtained? These are some of the issues that we will be exploring”, says Isabel Seruca, lecturer of the Science and Technology Department.

The conference “Data Science - Where are we and where are we going?” is aimed at professionals in the area of Information Technologies, managers and entrepreneurs, teachers and students in the areas of Informatics, Management, Economics, and Tourism. Free admission subject to prior registration.

From 9:30 am, the Infante Hall and Passos Perdidos will be filled with stands from companies from different sectors of activity - Technology, Industry, Human Resources, and Tourism - international consulting companies, and law firms, presenting their activity, projects and culture. The offer is wide and corresponds to the scientific areas of the university.

Students and former students thus have the opportunity to interact with employers and gain a place in the job market. As in previous editions, there will be contests for the best Pitch (short personal presentation) and best Curriculum Vitae.

In this lunch cycle, the university's pedagogical kitchen and restaurant become a classroom, where students learn and try restoration practices, performing all the work of a restaurant, whether in the kitchen or in the service room.

“Although students are always very nervous in these practical classes, the teachings of Renato Cunha and Luís Rocha are fundamental to experiencing the atmosphere of a high quality restaurant, which makes up for all the effort and anxiety. At the end of the class, they are always as excited as if they had accomplished a mission,” says Isabel Freitas, Director of the Department of Tourism, Heritage and Culture.

Several guest speakers will analyse these issues, including José António Caride Gomez, lecturer at the University of Santiago de Compostela; Sílvia Azevedo, President of the Association of Higher Technicians of Social Education; Sofia Mendes, of the Order of Psychologists; and Miriam Gonzaga, of the Regional Health Administration of the North of Portugal.

Customers of these lunches include teachers, employees, and some special guests. In this edition, “we will have surprise guests,” says Isabel Freitas. “I can tell you that they are partners and relevant players in the fields of Tourism and Hospitality, and employers of reference who can see in our students potential employees.”

“For the wine lunches, we will have our usual partners. Every year, we ask two of our partners, in a rotating system, to accompany us, providing us with not only the tasting of their wines, but also the sharing of knowledge and practices. Among the usual partners are Quinta da Lixa, Quinta do Crasto, Covela, Soalheiro, Quinta da Massorra, Quinta das Tecedeiras, and Anselmo Mendes.”

These lunches take place in March (4th, 11th, 18th, and 25th), April (22nd and 29th) and May (20th and 27th).

The exponential growth of tourism in Porto motivated this research, the results of which showed that local stakeholders consider business tourism to be very important for the city, as it is a “strategic tourism product for the territory”, a “complementary product for leisure tourism”, and “directly related to the development of business, entrepreneurship, and investment networks, and should be seen as a driver of the local and regional economy”.

Among the various proposals identified to enhance Porto as a business tourism destination, the following appear: “Create spaces to host large events (however, the recent opening of the Super Bock Arena-Rosa Mota Pavilion filled this gap); foster greater cooperation between companies to develop and consolidate the sector; structure and enhance the offer of tourist entertainment associated with the business segment; work more effectively to build a cohesive brand, in terms of marketing; and work on connecting the destination to new markets, namely in terms of air transport.”

In the opening session, Rector Sebastião Feyo Azevedo emphasized that Psychology and Education face “great challenges,” namely “multidisciplinarity” that “requires an integrated knowledge from various areas.” He highlighted “the very serious phenomenon of poverty in Portugal” and the “difficulty of society to adapt to the changes of the times,” to imply that educators and psychologists are decisive for a more inclusive society with a greater capacity to understand the world. Vice-rector Ferrão Filipe argued that it is necessary to “fight for more psychologists in schools and in health centres” and insisted on the idea that “it is not enough to know; it is necessary to experience what happens and what others express.” “Being attentive to the other is, therefore, fundamental,” he concluded.

During the Psychology and Education Week, the 11th edition of the Scientific Meeting “Exchange of Ideas between Masters Halfway through their Degree” took place, with the presentation of 29 dissertation works, analysed by 15 guest experts, and the exhibition and discussion of posters by students from all the study cycles of Psychology and Education.

The most discussed topics were the need for dialogue between the different scientific areas, seeking answers to society's challenges; the social responsibility of psychologists and educators in promoting citizenship and community development; the enhancement of professional identities, pedagogical innovation, and history; the promotion of critical thinking and questioning; and the constant search for knowledge.

Already with the objective of students interacting with professional practice, four workshops were held in the areas of conflict mediation in the school context, sexual violence, motivation, and ‘mindfulness’, with professionals and experts who shared their experiences and practices.

This event was also marked by the start of the “INPP Lectures Series” and the first edition of the PhD conferences in Clinical Psychology and Counselling, where doctoral students presented their thesis projects to the academic community.

From February 16th to 23rd, these young Europeans acquired skills in an area the President of ELSA Portucalense, Bruno Cruz, says “is gaining relevance and requires prudent treatment at an European and international level,” in addition to being “a topic that matters to Portugal for the privileged position of its maritime coast.” This Winter School also allowed this group to get to know Portuguese culture and discover some of the “treasures” of the ‘Undefeated City’, such as Livraria Lello.

Bruno Cruz is happy with this initiative, which was one of the objectives for this term. “We were able to ensure that all participants felt accompanied at our university and in our city. We can conclude that it was a success and will serve as a basis for future editions.”

After assessed and selected, the 3D models that had previously been created by students in blender were printed, in a workshop guided by trainers Ricardo Pereira and Francisco Mendes, in the afternoon of February 19th.

“The 3rd year students carried out a practical study for modelling 3D objects, with the goal of integrating them in interactive multimedia applications. Our syllabus does not include the differences between 3D models for applications and for physical printing, which is why this workshop was interesting to allow the models created by students to be used for 3D printing,” says Paulo Gomes, lecturer of the Science and Technology Department.

With this initiative, students have developed skills in the construction and printing of solid objects from the 3D modelling in blender, and are now familiar with the equipment and supplies needed for materializing objects, as well as with the technical limitations and solutions to get around them.

In this exchange programmes fair, in which Brazilian students have direct contact with representatives from universities and colleges from all over the world, Universidade Portucalense will present its training offer in the various scientific areas, from undergraduate to doctorate degrees.

This roadshow will visit the cities of São Paulo (7th and 8th), Rio de Janeiro (10th and 11th), Brasília (13th), Salvador da Bahia (15th), Belo Horizonte (17th), and Curitiba (19th).

Comunica UPT: In which institutions did your curricular and professional internships take place?
Rafaela Maia: My curricular internship, which lasted eight months, was held at the Pedrouços School grouping. Right now, I am doing a professional internship, which lasts one year, at the Canedo School grouping.

How do you describe these experiences?
Internship at a school is an ambivalent experience. We have good times and not so good times, but always challenging ones. We deal with a large and diverse community, and it is not always easy to adjust to that reality. The internship at the Pedrouços School grouping was a unique experience. It was my first contact with the work of a school psychologist. At the moment, the professional internship at the Canedo School grouping is also being an unique experience. Of course I'm still adapting, I became a part of this team recently, but I know I like being here.

What were your main activities?
In the curricular internship, my main activities were vocational guidance, psychological consultation, and curricular support among peers. The main objective of the internship was to decrease school failure. At this moment, in the professional internship, my activities are vocational guidance and psychological consultation. I am also part of “Crescer do Ler,” a project to promote skills and literacy being implemented in public kindergartens in the municipality of Santa Maria da Feira.

What were the main difficulties and challenges you felt when entering the job market?
The main difficulties were related to bureaucracies, namely with the process of acceptance by the Order of Psychologists, which took a long time. Waiting for the email that makes the beginning of internship official is a source of anxiety for all who are starting.

Any advice for final year students who will soon be in the job market?
Organize your time well, dedicate yourself to the maximum, put love in everything you do, and learn from the less good days, because those are the ones that help us to work with more commitment and determination.

Age: 24
Birth Place: Porto
Life Motto: Do not leave for tomorrow that which you can do today.
A Psychology book: “A vida é um sopro” (“Life is a breath”), by Miguel Mealha Estrada and António Coimbra de Matos.