ULusófona Hosted a BIP on Supervision, Mediation and Artificial Intelligence

For five days, Lusófona University – Porto University Centre became a meeting point for different countries, disciplines and perspectives to reflect on one of today's most pressing challenges: the impact of Artificial Intelligence (AI) on educational, social and professional practices.

From 29 June to 3 July 2026, the Blended Intensive Programme (BIP) "Supervision, Mediation and Artificial Intelligence in Educational and Social Contexts" brought together students, lecturers and researchers from different countries as part of the Erasmus+ programme.

Rather than focusing solely on technology, the BIP promoted an interdisciplinary reflection on how supervision, mediation and AI can contribute to transforming and innovating professional practices in educational, social and political contexts.

Throughout the week, participants explored topics including ethics, decision-making, constructive conflict management, professional development and new ways of producing knowledge in an increasingly digital society.

According to Vilma Martelo, a member of the organising committee, the programme addressed the growing need to promote critical reflection on the relationship between supervision, mediation and artificial intelligence. "Through this BIP, we aim to encourage students, lecturers and researchers to reflect more deeply on these three areas and on the impact that artificial intelligence is beginning to have on our academic, personal and professional practices. We want to raise awareness and prepare the academic community to respond ethically to the challenges brought about by this transformation."

The diversity of participants was one of the initiative's defining features. Professionals and students from the fields of Education, Psychology, Technology, Engineering, Management and Finance shared experiences and perspectives, contributing to a truly interdisciplinary and intercultural dialogue.

The face-to-face programme began with sessions on supervision led by Leanete Thomas Dotta and Daniela Ferreira, followed by a workshop delivered by Carla Dimitre.

On 30 June, the focus shifted to the relationship between mediation and artificial intelligence, with a session led by Márcia Aguiar and Ana Gonçalves, complemented by practical activities and discussions moderated by Patrícia Ribeiro.

The programme on 1 July focused on artificial intelligence, featuring presentations by João Matos and José Vasconcelos, followed by a workshop led by Vítor Teodoro exploring the applications and challenges of these technologies.

The following day, participants took part in an immersive experience dedicated to artificial intelligence for sustainable societies, exploring topics such as sustainability, data-driven decision-making and participatory design methodologies.

The programme concluded with the collaborative creation of an e-book, coordinated by Louise Lima and Elisabete Pinto da Costa, Director of the ULusófona Mediation Institute, bringing together the key contributions and reflections developed throughout the week.

According to Elisabete Pinto da Costa, the programme forms part of the Erasmus Consortium on Citizenship, Mediation and Interculturality in the 21st Century and aims to bring together areas of knowledge that are now inseparable. "This BIP seeks to debate, analyse and deepen three fundamental areas of advanced training in Educational Sciences: supervision in professional contexts, mediation as a relational paradigm, and artificial intelligence, together with the challenges it poses for professional practice, human interaction and new ways of working and learning."

The initiative once again highlighted Lusófona University's commitment to internationalisation and pedagogical innovation by creating collaborative learning environments where different fields of knowledge come together to address the challenges of digital transformation and contemporary societies.

View the Event Photos on ULusófona's Facebook Page

Text
Bruna Pereira
Susana A. Oliveira

Photography
Ana Machado

Coverage
Lara Sousa

Video and Photo Editing
Paulo Renato