The 3rd edition of EPsi Plural Week, organised by the School of Psychology of the University of Minho (EPsi), was attended by the Centre for Pedagogical Innovation (CIP) of the Polytechnic Institute of Porto (P.PORTO). The coordinator of the CIP's Distance Learning Office, Ricardo Queirós, was the keynote speaker at the seminar ‘Generative AI in the Teaching Context’, an event that took place on the morning of 19 November.
Queirós's presentation focused on a prospective analysis of the impact of Artificial Intelligence on the academic landscape. The expert shared his view, which he described as ‘admittedly grey’, on the current state of Higher Education, emphasising the need to find a ‘vaccine’ that can mitigate the possible desertification of university education. This concern stems from the growing questioning by younger generations of the value of traditional schooling and established academic knowledge. The urgency of the situation was expressed directly: ‘It is urgent that we find a “vaccine”; otherwise, we risk being complicit in the future desertification of Higher Education,’ said Ricardo Queirós.
This position reinforces CIP's work in promoting and disseminating innovative pedagogical practices, focusing on preparing teaching staff to work in hybrid and digital contexts, and on developing reflective and sustainable learning communities. The mission is to ensure the relevance and adaptation of higher education institutions.
In the afternoon, the EPsi programme included a workshop on Universal Design for Learning (UDL). This topic reflects a commitment to inclusion and the development of flexible, student-centred teaching practices, complementing the debate on technological innovation with the importance of educational accessibility.
The presence of a representative from P.PORTO, through CIP, at a forum promoted by EPsi at the University of Minho, highlights the importance of inter-institutional dialogue in the context of higher education in Portugal. This collaboration demonstrates that pedagogical innovation and quality assurance are a collective commitment, essential for the sustainability of education in the country. The 19th of November thus provided an opportunity for reflection, sharing and accountability among the various educational entities.