Towards language-friendly higher education: language policy development at the University of Aveiro, Portugal

It is clear that language-friendly and language-skilled higher education institutions are essential if an internationalisation is to be achieved which promotes the well-being of the academic community as a whole and the inclusion and success of all students. However, this premise poses many challenges for institutions, particularly those which are not located in the mainstream of the Anglophone higher education sphere. In such contexts, an internationalisation strategy which relies on the adoption of English as the medium of instruction and research is not sufficient to meet local and international demands. Adding to a growing body of research carried out in a wide range of higher education contexts, this article explores the importance attributed to internationalisation and language strategies by the University of Aveiro in its institutional policy documents in the period 2010 – 2018. It finds that languages are an important consideration in the institution’s internationalisation strategy which seeks a balance between two linguas francas, Portuguese and English, and recognises the contribution of languages to institutional life and graduate profiles. Keywords: higher education institutions; internationalisation; globalisation; language policy; inclusion and well-being

Listening to students for tomorrow, today: engaging students to define the future of higher education

This article examines the voices of students at a symposium organized by the European Consortium of Innovative Universities (ECIU) in 2018: ‘Learning for Tomorrow, Today: Future Fit Universities for 2040’. Twenty students from 11 universities attended with university leaders and policy makers. A dataset of field notes, written comments, post-event evaluations, and over 3 hours of video-material was accumulated, and has been analysed through video-hermeneutics and content-analysis. Five students chose to become co-authors after critically reading and validating the text and analysis. The research question asks how students perceive teaching and learning in a future fit university in 2040. Using an ‘engagement through partnership’ model, we argue that combining the voices of current andfuture stakeholders moves the sector a step closer to ‘future fit’ higher education. Our main finding is that students are eager to contribute to policy, strategy and practice. Furthermore, they express a view that universities must play a significant role in securing core societal values and in developing future citizens able to participate in democracy. At no point did students question the existence of universities in 2040. We argue that the students express a wish to assume the role of co-drivers and agents of change, not only in university management, but also in pedagogy and co-creation of new knowledge. Positioning themselves thus, they challenge our practice as academic staff, signalling that to develop full partnerships, we must position ourselvesas learners too, and embrace co-creation.publishedVersio

Building global skills through collaboration in the EFL classroom

Empathy, mutual respect, curiosity, collaboration, awareness (of self, others and the world) and openness to new experiences are some of the skills the OECD (2019) has identified as being associated with academic success and better preparation for the challenges of an ever more global and interconnected world. As global skills grow in importance, educators are challenged to consider new pedagogical approaches and design learning experiences that foster the development of these skills. The aim of this poster is to present a collaborative project developed at the University of Aveiro, during the 1st term of the 2021/22 academic year, and involving students from two different departments and English as a Foreign Language (EFL) subjects. In addition to consolidating students’ intercultural awareness and language competences, this learner-centred project also aimed to foster the development of personal, social and learning-to-learn competences, as these are defined in the Recommendation on Key Competences for Lifelong Learning (Council of Europe, 2018), which establishes a framework of competences citizens need in ever more diverse, mobile, digital, and global societies. In addition to a description of the project and presentation of the outputs, this poster summarises students’ perceptions of the process. The data showed that students had a generally positive perception of the activity per se and that they engaged with the acquisition and expression of cognitive, social and intercultural competencies.publishe

Digital transformation in tourism education

Purpose – Digital technology is an undeniable prime mover of society, and the ongoing digital transformation seems to be increasing the challenges within Tourism Education. Thus, this study aims at identifying, in the literature, advantages and constraints it poses to the area. Methodology – This work follows a literature review methodology, focusing on peer-reviewed, open source, recently published research, and the selected papers were analysed though a content analysis. Findings – The results yielded that teachers and students agree that some of the clear advantages of using digital technology in Tourism Education are: i) time and space flexibility, ii) the development of technical/systemic competencies, and iii) the possibilities it opens for authentic/situated teaching and learning. Furthermore, even though the use of digital technology appears to have a positive effect on students’ engagement, there is still some way to go to fully address the development of the students’ and teachers’ digital competence. Contributions – This study makes a valuable contribution to the current discussion around the need to reshape Tourism Education by addressing not only students’ but also faculty members’ needs. It has a dual focus, i.e. on the use of digital technology in teaching and learning; and on the development of digital competence. Even though it concerns Tourism in specific, the results of this paper can be seen as a contribution to the state of the art of upcoming and ongoing projects in the Educational area – e.g. "Future Proof Your Classroom – Teaching Skills 2030” (ref. 2017–1– AT01–KA203-034984).publishe

Teaching Day’17: a investigação no ensino-aprendizagem

O Teaching Day tem vindo a estabelecer-se enquanto evento regular no calendário da instituição, proporcionando uma oportunidade única de partilha e divulgação de experiências e práticas de ensino e aprendizagem realizadas nesta academia. Aberto à apresentação e discussão de trabalhos realizados por docentes e estudantes de todas as unidades orgânicas, individuais ou em equipa, este dia constitui uma oportunidade impar de troca de experiências inter e transdisciplinares, de reflexão e debate coletivos, de abertura a novas metodologias e práticas de ensino e aprendizagem, de criação de novas parcerias e colaborações, entre outras.publishe

Validation of the Portuguese version of the Psychotic Symptom Rating Scales (PSYRATS)

The Psychotic Symptom Rating Scales (PSYRATS) is a clinical assessment tool that focuses on the detailed measurement of delusions and hallucinations in patients with psychosis. The goal of this study was to examine the psychometric properties of the Portuguese version of the PSYRATS. A sample of 92 outpatients suffering from schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorders and presenting persistent psychotic symptoms was assessed using the PSYRATS and the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS). Good inter-rater reliability, test-retest reliability, concurrent validity and internal consistency were found. Factor analysis of the auditory hallucinations scale items disclosed a four-factor solution: emotion characteristics and disruption factor (factor 1), a physical characteristics factor (factor 2), a control characteristics factor (factor 3) and a cognitive attribution factor (factor 4). Regarding the delusions scale items, a two-factor solution was found: cognitive interpretation and disruption factor (factor 1) and an emotional characteristics (factor 2). The Portuguese version of the PSYRATS partially replicates previously published results in other countries.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Updates on malaria epidemiology and profile in Cabo Verde from 2010 to 2019: the goal of elimination.

BACKGROUND: Located in West Africa, Cabo Verde is an archipelago consisting of nine inhabited islands. Malaria has been endemic since the settlement of the islands during the sixteenth century and is poised to achieve malaria elimination in January 2021. The aim of this research is to characterize the trends in malaria cases from 2010 to 2019 in Cabo Verde as the country transitions from endemic transmission to elimination and prevention of reintroduction phases. METHODS: All confirmed malaria cases reported to the Ministry of Health between 2010 and 2019 were extracted from the passive malaria surveillance system. Individual-level data available included age, gender, municipality of residence, and the self-reported countries visited if travelled within the past 30 days, therby classified as imported. Trends in reported cases were visualized and multivariable logistic regression used to assess risk factors associated with a malaria case being imported and differences over time. RESULTS: A total of 814 incident malaria cases were reported in the country between 2010 and 2019, the majority of which were Plasmodium falciparum. Overall, prior to 2017, when the epidemic occurred, 58.1% (95% CI 53.6-64.6) of infections were classified as imported, whereas during the post-epidemic period, 93.3% (95% CI 86.9-99.7) were imported. The last locally acquired case was reported in January 2018. Imported malaria cases were more likely to be 25-40 years old (AOR: 15.1, 95% CI 5.9-39.2) compared to those under 15 years of age and more likely during the post-epidemic period (AOR: 56.1; 95% CI 13.9-225.5) and most likely to be reported on Sao Vicente Island (AOR = 4256.9, 95% CI = 260-6.9e+4) compared to Boavista. CONCLUSIONS: Cabo Verde has made substantial gains in reducing malaria burden in the country over the past decade and are poised to achieve elimination in 2021. However, the high mobility between the islands and continental Africa, where malaria is still highly endemic, means there is a constant risk of malaria reintroduction. Characterization of imported cases provides useful insight for programme and enables better evidence-based decision-making to ensure malaria elimination can be sustained

Primeiro relato e colonização diferencial de espécies de Passiflora pelo biótipo B de Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) no Brasil

This note is the first report of Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) biotype B colonizing passionvine in Brazil. We examined the colonization of nine Passiflora species by a wild B type population under greenhouse conditions. P. amethystina Mikan was the most preferred species for oviposition and colonization, whereas P. suberosa L., P. coriacea Juss. and two commercially cultivated species, P. alata Curtis and P. edulis Sims f. flavicarpa Degener, were mostly uncolonised. P. morifolia Mast., P. cincinnata Mast., P. foetida L. and P. caerulea L. showed intermediate levels of colonization. Such differential colonization might suggest some degree of resistance by certain Passiflora species or oviposition preference by B. tabaci.Esse trabalho descreve pela primeira vez a ocorrência do aleirodídeo Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) biótipo B colonizando maracujazeiros no Brasil. Também foi examinada a colonização de nove espécies de Passiflora pelo inseto em condições de telado. P. amethystina Mikan foi a espécie de maior preferência para oviposição e colonização, enquanto P. suberosa L., P. coriacea Juss. e duas espécies cultivadas comercialmente, P. alata Curtis e P. edulis Sims f. flavicarpa Degener, foram pouco colonizadas pelo aleirodídeo. P. morifolia Mast., P. cincinnata Mast., P. foetida L. e P. caerulea L. exibiram níveis intermediários de colonização. Esses resultados sugerem que certas espécies de Passiflora exibem diferentes graus de resistência à colonização ou preferência para oviposição de B. tabaci biótipo B

6-hydroxydopamine-mediated release of norepinephrine increases faecal excretion of Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium in pigs

Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium is an animal and zoonotic pathogen of worldwide importance. In pigs, transport and social stress are associated with reactivation and spread of Salmonella Typhimurium infection. The stress-related catecholamine norepinephrine (NE) has been reported to activate growth and virulence factor expression in Salmonella; however the extent to which NE contributes to stress-associated salmonellosis is unclear. We studied the impact of releasing NE from endogenous stores during Salmonella Typhimurium infection of pigs by administration of 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA), which selectively destroys noradrenergic nerve terminals. Treatment of pigs with 6-OHDA 7 or 16 days post-oral inoculation with Salmonella Typhimurium produced elevated plasma NE levels and transiently, but significantly, increased faecal excretion of the challenge strain. Oral administration of NE to Salmonella Typhimurium-infected pigs also transiently and significantly increased shedding; however pre-culture of the bacteria with NE did not alter the outcome of infection. Salmonella has been proposed to sense and respond to NE via a homologue of the adrenergic sensor kinase QseC. A ΔqseC mutant of Salmonella Typhimurium was consistently excreted in lower numbers than the parent strain post-oral inoculation of pigs, though not significantly so. 6-OHDA treatment of pigs infected with the ΔqseC mutant also increased faecal excretion of the mutant strain, albeit to a lesser extent than observed upon 6-OHDA treatment of pigs infected with the parent strain. Our data support the notion that stress-related catecholamines modulate the interaction of enteric bacterial pathogens with their hosts

Factors related to human-vector contact that modify the likelihood of malaria transmission during a contained Plasmodium falciparum outbreak in Praia, Cabo Verde

Background: Determining the reproductive rate and how it varies over time and space (RT) provides important insight to understand transmission of a given disease and inform optimal strategies for controlling or eliminating it. Estimating RT for malaria is difficult partly due to the widespread use of interventions and immunity to disease masking incident infections. A malaria outbreak in Praia, Cabo Verde in 2017 provided a unique opportunity to estimate RT directly, providing a proxy for the intensity of vector-human contact and measure the impact of vector control measures. Methods: Out of 442 confirmed malaria cases reported in 2017 in Praia, 321 (73%) were geolocated and informed this analysis. RT was calculated using the joint likelihood of transmission between two cases, based on the time (serial interval) and physical distance (spatial interval) between them. Log-linear regression was used to estimate factors associated with changes in RT, including the impact of vector control interventions. A geostatistical model was developed to highlight areas receptive to transmission where vector control activities could be focused in future to prevent or interrupt transmission. Results: The RT from individual cases ranged between 0 and 11 with a median serial- and spatial-interval of 34 days [interquartile range (IQR): 17–52] and 1,347 m (IQR: 832–1,985 m), respectively. The number of households receiving indoor residual spraying (IRS) 4 weeks prior was associated with a reduction in RT by 0.84 [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.80–0.89; p-value <0.001] in the peak-and post-epidemic compared to the pre-epidemic period. Conclusions: Identifying the effect of reduced human-vector contact through IRS is essential to determining optimal intervention strategies that modify the likelihood of malaria transmission and can inform optimal intervention strategies to accelerate time to elimination. The distance within which two cases are plausibly linked is important for the potential scale of any reactive interventions as well as classifying infections as imported or introduced and confirming malaria elimination