The Centre for Pedagogical Innovation (CIP) of the Polytechnic Institute of Porto (P.PORTO) was present at the 9th edition of Plug-IN, a networking event organised by the School of Media Arts and Design (ESMAD), which took place on 14 January at the school's premises. The initiative, designed in a ‘speed-dating’ format between organisations and students, aimed to strengthen relations with the student community and publicise internship and collaboration opportunities.
Three members of the CIP team represented P.PORTO at the event: Ricardo Queirós, head of the Distance Learning Office, Bárbara Veiga, senior multimedia technician, and João Batista, senior audiovisual technician. During the meeting, the team presented the Centre's mission and objectives, as well as the curricular internship opportunities currently available.
CIP do P.Porto highlights the importance of involving students not only as potential interns, but also as active partners in the development of innovative teaching and learning practices. In addition to structured internship opportunities, the Centre's representatives expressed their openness to considering projects and collaboration proposals presented by the students themselves, encouraging initiative and creativity.
The history of cooperation between CIP P.PORTO and students from various schools at the Polytechnic Institute of Porto, including ESMAD and the School of Education (ESE), was also mentioned in the context of the event. The institution emphasised that its workspaces value collaborative environments between different areas of knowledge and that they prioritise sharing and solving practical challenges.
After Plug-IN, the centre received several contacts from students interested in applying for the opportunities advertised, pointing to a significant interest generated by participation in the event. CIP do P.PORTO thus continues to reinforce its commitment to valuing academic talent and preparing future professionals through real-world experiences, promoting dialogue between academia and the labour market.