Responses to COVID-19 social and economic impacts: A comparative analysis in Southern european countries

The COVID-19 pandemic globally affected European societies. This new crisis arrived after a period of gradual recovery from the 2008 financial crisis that had jeopardized the achievement of Europe Strategy 2020 (ES2020) targets. The need to recover for the Southern European countries, which had austerity programs during the financial crisis, is crucial to ensure a continuum of economic and social development. This study aims to analyze the impact of the two last international crises on the accomplishment of ES2020 goals and how the ‘NextGenerationEU’ program presents a mechanism to recover from the pandemic’s socioeconomic impacts. We analyzed secondary statistical data from Eurostat and official European documents. Additionally, we carried out a systematic analysis of 162 measures of the recovery and resilience plan from Southern European countries (Greece, Spain, Italy, and Portugal). The results showed that ES2020 targets were at risk, particularly in the field of employment, combating poverty, and social exclusion. Currently, there is strong European investment in response to the socioeconomic impacts of the pandemic, with all countries defining measures adjusted to protect the most vulnerable groups. However, the implications of these responses require a political commitment for them to effectively contribute to sustainable recovery and development.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Enrichment of Forensic Science Employability Skills through a Turing Placement Opportunity in Brazil

The Turing Scheme funds learners from the UK to participate in international mobility schemes including short period studying abroad. International placements are thought to be a key element in equipping students with the necessary skills to transition from Higher Education and seek graduate level employment. This work evaluates the effectiveness of a four-week placement in the Federal District Civil Police in Brazil. The students’ experiences were examined by thematically evaluating their responses in a semi-structured focus group to four pre-established themes i) forensic science attributes – the development and reinforcement of specific forensic science skills, ii) employability – enhancement of the prospects in seeking post-education employment, iii) cultural experience – the international nature of the placement allowed cultural exploration and a valuable leaning experience, iv) organization – recognition of the broader financial and social issues that could be a barrier to some students taking part in international placements. This study provides an insight into the views of a small group of forensic students on an international placement and highlights the potential value to students in respect to skill development, employment prospects and cultural enrichment in engaging in such activities. These placements do come with significant administrative burdens on the organizers and the small number of places and other barriers limits the opportunity to a small number of learners

Lo digital en la intervención con familias: un caso práctico

This article discusses the responses developed in Portugal during the state of emergency by a family empowerment and intervention team and how this team actively integrated contingency plans and challenges through information and communication technology (ICT). We also explain what was learned during this period and what could have been done better. The family empowerment intervention teams of this organization are specialized multidisciplinary teams that act from a perspective to teach parenting skills to families to ensure that the rights of their children and adolescents are guaranteed. These teams’ interventions normally take place in the home environment. However, the state of emergency meant that this procedure had to be adapted by incorporating digital practices, while home visits and consultations were carried out only in emergencies and other duly justified situations. The result of this experience was extremely positive in terms of the relationships established with the families and couples, the skills developed, and the resilience shown by all.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Transversal competencies for employability: From higher education to the labour market

Aligning learning goals with the needs of the labour market is a difficult task for universities, especially in the present day. Although organisations seek professionals with flexible and varied skills, universities often underestimate the importance of cross-curricular skills. Thus, this article aims to identify the perception of recent graduates as to the importance of the transversal skills that they acquired and developed at university and the ways in which they are now applied in the work environment. In this exploratory study, we sent a questionnaire to recent graduates that allowed us to analyse the development and applicability of these competencies in organisations. The results are further discussed within the broader framework of how universities adapt to the strong socio-economic challenges that characterise current times and the integration of recent graduates into the labour market.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Looking at b-learning and online experience in higher education during COVID-19

COVID-19 caused changes in teaching practices at various levels of education, namely in higher education. This study aims to present an analysis of an experience with higher education students in a b-learning pedagogical model, before and during the current pandemic and in different moments of the confinement measures. The curricular unit analyzed started with a blended-learning approach since 2018, considering the importance of innovative pedagogical models in student learning and became an essential resource during the pandemic period. This case study was composed of a sample of 269 students from a Portuguese public University who attended the curricular unit Methods and Study Techniques, as optional, in their 1st year of degree, between February 2018 and March 2021.The data were processed using SPSS v.27, seeking to analyze different moments, according to the different confinement measures decreed by the Portuguese Government. Participants are aged between 17 and 64 years old, 62.5% female and 24.5% worker-students. It was found that regardless of the context of confinement, students showed positive satisfaction with the online course, with its contents, with the platform and with the b-learning pedagogical method, especially during total confinement when classes were in distance learning. The most valued aspects in this modality were the flexibility of teaching the curricular unit and time management. The acquired tools were highly valued by the students, first for the adaptability that gave them, but mainly to face the distance learning challenge in their 1st year of degree, giving them planning and organizing skills for autonomous work. Most students did not point out a disadvantage in this modality, although they expressed the importance of face-to-face classes that were suspended in the context of a pandemic.info:eu-repo/semantics/acceptedVersio

Social and ecological sustainability in social work training

Social ecology appears as overcoming the functional inconsistencies of the current development model, introducing a new perspective of eco-systemic balance among species and between humans and nature, as well as society systems. This is a theme directly related to Social Work that seeks to ensure social well-being, intervening in multiple dimensions of human, social and sustainable development. This presentation aims to analyse the perception of social work master students about social ecology and the importance of social and ecological sustainability on social work training. We followed a collaborative learning methodology with a group of Erasmus Social Work master's students from various Universities (Portugal, Finland, Slovakia, Spain and Lithuania). Based on a questionnaire given to each student before the group discussion, we assessed the participants' knowledge on this topic. From here we proceeded to a debate activity that allowed systematizing contributions to Social Work, as well as discussing the importance of promoting more sustainable societies and practices. The results showed that many students had limited knowledge about ecological and social sustainability, recognizing that this was a relevant topic for Social Work training. Among the aspects that the group highlighted as essential in the training were: the importance of promoting a more inclusive planet, combating social inequalities and to ensure environment as fundamental right; and the importance of promoting sustainable actions that preserve the environment and respond to climate changes. Additionally, the participants considered that social and ecological sustainability should be part of the Social Work training programme, considering present and future social intervention.info:eu-repo/semantics/acceptedVersio

Potato production impacts of the association trichodorids and TRV in naturally infected fields

An investigation was conducted to determine the effect of soil-born Tobacco rattle virus (TRV) isolates on yield and some quality attributes of 8 potato cultivars (Agata, Amorosa, Almera, Cunéria, Kondor, Picasso, Raja and Stemster) in Portuguese growing areas. Preliminary results revealed that some attributes (canopy growth, total yield, tuber numbers and yield within size grades, tuber spraing symptoms and secondary growths) are severely affected in the sites with viruliferous trichodorids transmitting TRV. It was shown that TRV has real conditions for survival and cause economic impact in potato crop in these regions. These results have potential interest to all potato growing countries.Centro de Biologia Molecular e Ambiental (CBMA), UMCentre of Natural Resources, Environment and Society Studies (CERNAS), College of Agriculture of Coimbra (ESAC)Eurobatata, Comércio de Produtos Alimentares, Lda, PORTUGA

Racial and ethnic discrimination in Portugal in times of pandemic crisis

During the last two years, the pandemic has dominated the public attention and debate around the world, centering on socio-economic aspects and having camouflaged other social, cultural and even environmental issues. This study sought to analyze ethno-racial discrimination processes, identifying significant events in Portugal during the period of the current global crisis. We utilized document analysis of national and international reports produced in the last five years, complementing with secondary statistical data and the analysis of online news and users’ comments published in national media during the last two years. The results show that, although there has been a development in Portuguese legislation and in anti-discrimination measures, there has been an increase in racist and xenophobic phenomena in Portugal. Citizens’ perceptions, indicators and reports from official bodies show evidence of discriminatory behavior. Additionally, within this framework, we see a greater political presence of extreme right-wing movements, as well as an increase in hate speech in online news comments. Thus, although there is an awareness of the seriousness of these phenomena, there is an urgent need for actions against racial and ethnic intolerance and greater effective measures for ideological crimes.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

GC-FID and GC-MS as a tool to screen the influence of wood ageing technologies in the brandies odourless and odourant compounds

The maturation of wine brandies in wooden barrels cause many sensory and physicochemical changes in these alcoholic beverages, namely its flavour modification. Previous work (Caldeira et al. 2008) pointed out the most potent odourant compounds of the wine aged brandies. Some of these compounds proceed from the distillate and others are extracted from the wood. In this study it was quantified, some odourless compounds, such as methanol and higher alcohols and several odorant compounds in brandies aged in presence of two types of wood fragments (staves and tablets), from two different kinds of woods (Limousin oak wood and Portuguese chestnut wood), and compared with those found in the same with brandy aged in wooden barrels. A taster panel have also profiled these brandies and evaluated their overall quality. The methanol and higher alcohols were quantified by GC-FID equipped with a fused silica capillary column of polyethylene glycol according to the official method [NP 3263, 1990]. The odorant compounds were quantified by GC-FID and identified by GC-MS. The results showed that the ageing system is the most discriminant factor, having a significant effect on the level of several odourant compounds. The wood botanical species affected few odourant compounds. The importance of odorant compounds was also demonstrated by the high linear correlations between their contents and the intensity of several sensory attributes. The results show the possibility of using the chromatographic results as a tool to discriminate brandies produced with different ageing technologies

Sensory and chemical modifications of wine brandy aged with chestnut and oak wood

This work evaluated the sensorial and chemical modifications in brandy aged in presence of two types of wood fragments in comparison with a brandy aged in wooden barrels