A self-assessment tool for social responsibility in higher education. Reporting on a national policy development process in Portugal

Purpose – Providing higher education institutions (HEIs) with a tool for self-assessing their social responsibility (SR) that generates the information and knowledge necessary to a strategic approach to adopting the Green Paper recommendations about the SR of HEIs. Setting out the collaborative policy development process in order to construct the tool “Indicators of SR of HEIs” (ISRHEI). Design/methodology/approach – After a literature review, including self-assessment (SA) tools and leading guidelines, a working group of 24 Portuguese HEIs was created to coconstruct the ISRHEI tool, which was then subject to validation in a pilot study. Findings – There are 34 indicators in the ISRHEI tool, structured by sequential levels according to the HEI alignment with SR (policies, procedures, practices and monitoring along a strategic continuum) hoping to achieve impacts on the organisational, educational, cognitive and social level. Originality – This is an innovative and national policy development process for SR in Portugal. It gives insights into guiding documents, SA indicators for SR, and the process of developing consensus on this topic among 24 HEIs in Portugal. The ISRHEI tool is tailored to the specific characteristics and level of development of HEIs.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

School-Family and Family-School Enrichment: A Study with Portuguese Working Student Parents

In recent years, higher education institutions have progressively undertaken efforts to attract more diversified populations to their programs, both in the first and second cycles. These new groups include students who work professionally and who are parents. The literature that aims to address the management of multiple roles of higher education students has mainly devoted its attention to the potential conflict of roles, with a scarcity of studies focused on the positive aspects that may result from this articulation. The present study aims to analyze the relationships between satisfaction with social support (in the academic/school, work, and family domain), satisfaction with role management and academic performance and school-family and family-school enrichment experiences. The study was carried out using a questionnaire, with 155 students working fathers/mothers allowed to identify predictors of school-family and family-school enrichment. The results provide a better understanding of the factors that contribute to a student role having a positive impact on other life roles, namely the professional role and the role of father/mother.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Interdisciplinaridade : exemplos da Terra ao Espaço

Perante os desafios que se colocam hoje em dia aos estudantes do ensino superior e profissionais de amanhã, parece ser inequívoco que estes terão de ser construtores de conhecimento e de soluções que, para serem inovadoras, deverão conjugar abordagens, metodologias e conteúdos múltiplos e entrelaçados de forma única. Por isto mesmo, um capítulo dedicado à interdisciplinaridade é uma ocasião para elencar quais as competências que devem ser trabalhadas para enfrentar o novo milénio, mas ainda para sublinhar a complexidade inerente aos temas que urge resolver. O presente texto propõe, também, uma aplicação da interdisciplinaridade que é igualmente uma ilustração dos já referidos desafios de hoje e de um futuro próximo. Os exemplos das Ciências da Terra e do Espaço são emblemáticos porque condensam uma dose de conhecimento adquirido e consolidado com questões em aberto, cuja resposta vai poder ser dada, na medida em que diversas equipas, de proveniência científica distinta, vão conseguir comunicar entre si, gerar informação e conhecimento novos, e coordenar-se para um desígnio comum, em nome da ciência, da inovação e do desenvolvimento.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

A responsabilidade social na comunicação da ciência nos laboratórios de Estado portugueses

Os laboratórios de Estado são organismos públicos de investigação aplicada. Pela sua vocação, congregam um conjunto extenso de funcionalidades, da prestação de serviços especializada, à investigação aplicada propriamente dita, passando pela avaliação pericial, a normalização, a certificação e a regulamentação. As suas prioridades de actuação são definidas em função das políticas nacionais de ciência e tecnologia. Os laboratórios de Estado são tutelados pelos Ministérios do respectivo sector de intervenção. Portugal dispõe de um conjunto de laboratórios de Estado nas áreas estratégicas de desenvolvimento, tais como a saúde, a genética médica, a agricultura, as pescas, a hidrografia, a veterinária, o nuclear, a engenharia civil, a geologia, a engenharia e tecnologia industrial, a meteorologia e a investigação tropical. Estes laboratórios caracterizam-se por uma perspectiva orientada para a aplicação do conhecimento produzido e definem-se pelo seu exercício de serviço público. Actualmente, os laboratórios públicos são alvo de questionamento, por parte da sociedade e, inclusive, dos Governos. Assiste-se, em consequência, a um processo de reengenharia dos mesmos, com vista a uma maior adequação às necessidades mais actuais da investigação científica

Investigation of bonded hydrogen defects in nanocrystalline diamond films grown with nitrogen/methane/hydrogen plasma at high power conditions

In this work, we investigate the influence of some growth parameters such as high microwave power ranging from 3.0 to 4.0 kW and N2 additive on the incorporation of bonded hydrogen defects in nanocrystalline diamond (NCD) films grown through a small amount of pure N2 addition into conventional 4% CH4/H2 plasma using a 5 kW microwave plasma CVD system. Incorporation form and content of hydrogen point defects in the NCD films produced with pure N2 addition was analyzed by employing Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy for the first time. A large amount of hydrogen related defects was detected in all the produced NCD films with N2 additive ranging from 29 to 87 µm thick with grain size from 47 nm to 31 nm. Furthermore, a specific new H related sharp absorption peak appears in all the NCD films grown with pure N2/CH4/H2 plasma at high powers and becomes stronger at powers higher than 3.0 kW and is even stronger than the 2920 cm−1 peak, which is commonly found in CVD diamond films. Based on these experimental findings, the role of high power and pure nitrogen addition on the growth of NCD films including hydrogen defect formation is analyzed and discussed

Avoided energy cost of producing minerals: The case of iron ore

There is growing concern about the decline of the ore grade in mines and the increased energy usage for processing and refining metals. In the limit, where no concentrated deposits exist, minerals must be obtained from bare rock. A method for quantitatively assessing the “free bonus” granted by nature in providing concentrated minerals in mines and thus assessing the quality of the different resources is estimating how much energy is needed to concentrate the minerals, as they are already in mines, from bare rock. This bonus granted by nature reduces the costs of human mining and metallurgical processes, as well as the mining effort required of future generations. In this study, the concentration of high-iron-content minerals in common rocks was investigated via a computational model developed using the HSC software. As expected, the range of results for the specific energy for the concentration of iron from common rocks was considerably higher than the energy required by modern processes. This reveals the need to value current iron deposits and the challenge of developing sustainable methods of metal production to satisfy the needs of the present and future generations

A critical review on the numerical simulation related to Physical Vapour Deposition

Physical Vapour Deposition (PVD) is a process usually used for the production of advanced coatings regarding its application in several industrial and current products, such as optical lens, moulds and dies, decorative parts or tools. This process has several variants due to its strong evolution along the last decades. The process is commonly assisted by plasma, creating a particular low pressure and medium temperature atmosphere, which is responsible for the transition of atomic particles between the target and the parts to be coated into a vacuum reactor. Several parameters are directly affecting the deposition, namely the substrate temperature, pressure inside the reactor, assisting gases used, type of current, power supply, bias, substrate and target materials, samples holder and corresponding rotation, deposition time, among others. Many mathematical models have been developed in order to allow the generation of numerical simulation applications, trying to combine parameters and expect the corresponding results. Numerical simulation applications were created around the mathematical models previously developed, which can play an important role in the prediction of the coating properties and structure. This paper intends to describe the numerical simulation evolution in the last years, namely the use of Finite Elements Method (FEM) and Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD).info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

On the Physical Vapour Deposition (PVD): Evolution of Magnetron Sputtering Processes for Industrial Applications

Advanced coatings play an important role in a wide range of industrial applications. These coatings are commonly used in machining tools due to their high hardness and wear resistance, but also can be applied in jewellery and decorative purposes. Deposition techniques have seen a strong evolution as result of the directly related devices, control evolution and software. Several variants have been developed around the main techniques: arc evaporation and sputtering. The coatings produced present significant differences in their characteristics, namely in terms of structure, mechanical properties and surface morphology. Depending on the substrate material and application, the deposition process needs to be properly selected, providing the particular characteristics requested. This paper intends to do a critical review of the evolution of the advanced coatings deposition process, mainly focused on the Physical Vapour Deposition (PVD) process, particularly in the Magnetron Sputtering technique, which is able to produce smooth surfaces, using lower temperatures, presenting excellent mechanical and tribological properties and having very good adhesion to the main materials used as substrate.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

DOIS ANOS (LETIVOS) DE PANDEMIA: EXPECTATIVAS E RECEIOS DE NOVOS ESTUDANTES DO ENSINO SUPERIOR

A pandemia exacerbou os desafios enfrentados pelos estudantes que ingressam no ensino superior. Este estudo, de natureza qualitativa e cariz exploratório, teve como objetivo contribuir para o conhecimento das expectativas e dos receios de dois grupos de estudantes (n=90) que ingressaram no ensino superior durante a pandemia. Os dados foram recolhidos com recurso à versão portuguesa do Hopes and Fears Questionnaire. A análise dos resultados identificou diferenças ao nível das expectativas e dos receios dos estudantes inquiridos, nomeadamente nos domínios educação, global/coletivo e realização pessoal. Concluiu‐se que os estudantes expressaram mais receios do que expectativas em relação ao seu futuro. Este estudo contribui para um melhor conhecimento sobre a transição e adaptação ao Ensino Superior em contexto de pandemia COVID‐19.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Poisson homology of r-matrix type orbits I: example of computation

In this paper we consider the Poisson algebraic structure associated with a classical $r$-matrix, i.e. with a solution of the modified classical Yang--Baxter equation. In Section 1 we recall the concept and basic facts of the $r$-matrix type Poisson orbits. Then we describe the $r$-matrix Poisson pencil (i.e the pair of compatible Poisson structures) of rank 1 or $CP^n$-type orbits of $SL(n,C)$. Here we calculate symplectic leaves and the integrable foliation associated with the pencil. We also describe the algebra of functions on $CP^n$-type orbits. In Section 2 we calculate the Poisson homology of Drinfeld--Sklyanin Poisson brackets which belong to the $r$-matrix Poisson family