Exploring the best internal communication practices for optimal employee engagement in corporate sustainability : Hi Fly case study

Sustainability is a key concern of our times. In order to ensure that future generations will be able to live in a healthy planet and robust society, today’s world must be able to increase economic growth, while dealing with the most pressing environmental and social issues. When companies decide to be part of the solution, integrating externalities into their corporate strategy, it is indispensable that employees are aligned with this mission. The more employees are engaged in the company’s sustainability strategy, the more they support it, whether through changing their own behaviours, communicating this commitment to external stakeholders, or actively contributing to greening corporate processes. Internal communication enters the picture by promoting this engagement, being a strategic tool for companies to use when they decide to pursue corporate sustainability. This Internship Report conducted a case study-mixed methods in order to analyse a sustainable company, Hi Fly airline, and explore the best internal communication practices to increase employee engagement in corporate sustainability. Results showed that the airline applies a variety of internal communication practices to communicate about corporate sustainability, ranging from electronic channels, such as the intranet and email, to sustainability training and participatory activities, like beach clean-ups. It was possible to understand, however, that employees prefer the email for this communication. Although Hi Fly employees are engaged in the company’s sustainability work, a significant portion wants more communication on the subject and do not feel that they have an open channel to share their suggestions and contribute to making the airline more sustainable, highlighting what should be improved at Hi Fly. This research adds clues to the scarce literature on the topic, taking advantage of Hi Fly’s best practices and its employees’ suggestions to provide some lessons learned on how to communicate with employees about corporate sustainability. Applying these practices can benefit both the employees and the companies that have sustainability at the heart of their activities.A sustentabilidade é uma preocupação central nos dias que correm. De modo a assegurar que as gerações futuras terão a possibilidade de viver num planeta saudável e sociedade robusta, o mundo de hoje deve ser capaz de gerar crescimento económico, ao mesmo tempo que lida com problemas ambientais e sociais. Quando as empresas decidem contribuir, integrando aspetos externos na sua estratégica corporativa, é indispensável que os colaboradores estejam alinhados com esta missão. Quanto mais engaged os colaboradores estiverem na estratégia de sustentabilidade, mais irão apoiá-la, seja pela mudança dos seus próprios comportamentos, pela comunicação deste compromisso a stakeholders externos, ou contribuindo ativamente para tornar os processos corporativos mais sustentáveis. A comunicação interna surge como promotora deste engagement, sendo uma ferramenta estratégica que as empresas podem usar quando decidem incorporar a sustentabilidade. Este Relatório de Estágio implementou um estudo de caso com métodos mistos para analisar uma empresa sustentável, a companhia aérea Hi Fly, e explorar as melhores práticas de comunicação interna para aumentar o engagemet dos colaboradores na sustentabilidade corporativa. Os resultados mostraram que a companhia aérea utiliza múltiplas práticas de comunicação interna para comunicar acerca desta temática, desde o uso de canais eletrónicos, como a intranet e o email, à implementação de treinos de sustentabilidade e atividades participativas, como limpezas de praia. Foi possível perceber, porém, que os colaboradores preferem o email para esta comunicação. Embora os colaboradores da Hi Fly estejam engaged no trabalho de sustentabilidade da empresa, uma porção significativa quer mais comunicação sobre este assunto e não sente ter um canal aberto para partilhar as suas sugestões e contribuir para tornar a companhia aérea mais sustentável, salientando-se assim o que deve ser melhorado na Hi Fly. Esta investigação adiciona novas pistas à escassa literatura sobre este tópico, partindo das melhoras práticas da Hi Fly e das sugestões dos seus colaboradores para providenciar algumas lições aprendidas sobre como comunicar com os colaboradores sobre sustentabilidade corporativa. A aplicação destas práticas pode beneficiar tanto os colaboradores como as empresas que têm a sustentabilidade no centro das suas atividades

Cadavre Exquis: motion-controlled interactive film

This interactive film, a variation on the surrealist game Cadavre Exquis, seeks the possibility of subverting the filmic discourse by exploring psychosomatic processes that may give the viewer different perceptions of cinematic time, by providing the possibility of intervening into the narrative in a disruptive way.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Por una (hiper)pedagogía crítica, intercultural y multisensorial en el aprendizaje de Español como Lengua Extranjera (ELE)

Teniendo en cuenta una pedagogía crítica emancipadora (Jiménez Raya, Lamb & Vieira, 2007) enriquecida por enfoques multisensoriales (Arslan, 2009), se pretende en este artículo dar cuenta de prácticas verdaderamente interdisciplinarias y basadas en una filosofía de proyecto en el que alumnos de ELE en la Educación Básica (primer y tercer ciclos) llevan a cabo tareas de naturaleza plurilingüe y multicultural.En este estudio, hemos tratado de destacar las prácticas y estrategias emancipatorias que traducen aprendizajes que resultan significativos en un nivel multicultural y plurilingüe para los alumnos (Andrade & Araújo e Sá, 2003), contribuyendo al desarrollo de su conciencia crítica cultural (Byram et al, 2002). Buscando evidenciar una muestra de prácticas interdisciplinarias y multisensoriales (Arslan, 2009), relacionadas con el proyecto Pluri+Red y basadas en el uso de estrategias y materiales físicos o digitales (juegos didácticos, WebQuests, cuentos interactivos, etc.) que plantean retos a los estudiantes con el fin de provocar asombro y extrañeza, pero también cuestionamiento (Jiménez Raya, Lamb & Vieira, 2007), pretendemos que este estudio exploratorio demuestre las opciones y rutas tomadas hacia un único objetivo: formar a los futuros ciudadanos conscientes del mundo, capaces de intervenir y de formarse a lo largo de su vida

a forced-choice identification study with Hungarian native speakers

UIDB/03213/2020 UIDP/03213/2020 2020.05740.BDAuditory perceptual experiments with Portuguese L2 are scarce, especially within the scope of the European variety (EP). In this study, we aim at observing the assimilation of the EP vowels [ɐ] and [ɨ] by Hungarian native speakers, and their perceptual learning after some contact with Portuguese. A multiple forced-choice identification experiment was run with two groups of Hungarian speakers – a group with and a group without previous contact with EP. The results show that the categorization fell into the closest phonetic categories of the L1. The results also indicate a learning effect for [ɨ], with a recategorization path from [y] to [ø]. As for [ɐ], no major differences were observed between groups. This result is consistent with difficulties observed in the classroom environment, where [ɐ] is particularly challenging to Hungarian learners.authorsversioninpres

Hotel promotion through social media: hotel Anantara Vilamoura & Algarve resort

The main objective of the present study is to understand the role of networks in the promotion of the Hotel Anantara Vilamoura & Algarve Resort. In response to the objective research, the following specific objectives were considered: i) to identify social networks used by the hotel; ii) understand the monitoring that the hotel gives to social networks; iii) identify the social networks most used by customers; iv) identify problems and challenges faced by the hotel in the management of its social networks; v) understand how the hotel uses the networks to be more competitive. A qualitative methodology was applied supported by semi-structured interviews with the Hotel Director, the Head of Social Networks, and the Guests, between August and October 2020. The information on the interviews was handled individually through content analysis. It was concluded that the network services are a direct channel between the Hotel and consumers, which facilitates brand exposure and interaction with customers. In this regard, it allows for greater loyalty and to attract new customers. The results reveal that, when compared to other traditional means of communication, online social networks are a great tool that allows the hotel to publicize its services easily and quickly, in real-time, with great exposure and with reduced costs. The hotel is concerned to use social networks in the best way, with a focus on the current client and the target audience.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Terminology Management for Social Media Communication During Covid 19 Pandemic: A Case Study with a Portuguese Higher Education Institution

The process of attracting new students is a constant challenge for Portuguese Higher Education Institutions (HEIs). It is challenging because it implies the definition of a communication strategy that uses both traditional and digital tactics to promote the institution and its educational offer. Considering the constraints resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic, HEIs had to change their strategies and, in a short period, create digital communication mechanisms to facilitate new students' access to relevant information about the institution. This paper intends thus to determine and evaluate which are the predominant factors in seeking information about a degree in business sciences, specifically regarding the Porto Accounting and Business School in Portugal. To do that, we will consider the various factors that tend to influence the decision-making process of choosing a higher education degree, namely: the institutional website, social networks (Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and YouTube), other contact mechanisms (live chat, e-mail, text messages, ZOOM videoconference) and alumni testimonials. This study will also consider the role of terminology and positive language to obtain a successful communication strategy for social media. The analysis of these factors, combined with research developed with a focus group of high school students' graduates to assess their online preferences, will allow the presentation of a digital communication proposal whose purpose is to attract and retain new students. This proposal will consider the role of a strategic terminology management approach to capture students' attention when responding to their social media preferences. This paper results from the perception that being aware of the students' online preferences and communication skills and needs is essential to enhance the quality of the digital communication that HEIs promote in social media channels, especially in a time frame as specific and multifaceted as the one that we are currently experiencing.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

The Importance of Zebrafish in Biomedical Research

FUNDING SOURCE - PTDC/SAU-OBD/103981/2008 and SFRH/BPD/772587/2011Introduction: Zebrafish (Danio rerio) is an ideal model organism for the study of vertebrate development. This is due to the large clutches that each couple produces, with up to 200 embryos every 7 days, and to the fact that the embryos and larvae are small, transparent and undergo rapid external development. Material and Methods: Using scientific literature research tools available online and the keywords Zebrafish, biomedical research, human disease, and drug screening, we reviewed original studies and reviews indexed in PubMed. Results: In this review we summarized work conducted with this model for the advancement of our knowledge related to several human diseases. We also focused on the biomedical research being performed in Portugal with the zebrafish model. Discussion: Powerful live imaging and genetic tools are currently available for zebrafish making it a valuable model in biomedical research. The combination of these properties with the optimization of automated systems for drug screening has transformed the zebrafish into "a top model" in biomedical research, drug discovery and toxicity testing. Furthermore, with the optimization of xenografts technology it will be possible to use zebrafish to aide in the choice of the best therapy for each patient. Conclusion: Zebrafish is an excellent model organism in biomedical research, drug development and in clinical therapy.publishersversionpublishe

do we need a more proactive approach?

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Understanding success according to crowdfunding project’s initiators

Over the past few years, a large number of projects related to entrepreneurship ideas have appeared daily in the media, due to the fact that they were sold as new solutions for companies or gave origin to new companies. These projects were mainly created by individuals who were students, unemployed persons or working people and, consequently, did not have a company of their own and, in most of the cases, also did not have the means to finance their idea. In some situations, the creation of a crowdfunding project presents itself as a convenient and riskless option for funding and this is frequently the reason why some project initiators decide to launch a campaign. The assessment of each campaign depends on the expectations of the project creator, who is in the best position to decide whether it was actually successful. Untangling how a project owner can assess the performance of its project is of major importance, namely when projects are launched by individuals who ultimately carry all the tasks involved in the initiative. This is a field of research within crowdfunding that remains, to the best of our knowledge, under researched. We propose a framework for the analysis of the success of these projects and we test it on six crowdfunding projects launched in Portugal. Our goal is to shed light to the factors that can be used by project creators in the assessment of the performance of their initiatives.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio