From 14 to 17 October 2025, the University of Algarve hosted the Staff Week “Pedagogical and Social Innovation: Joining Higher Education and the Community”, organised within the framework of the European University of the Seas – SEA-EU.
The event brought together 12 participants from five of the nine partner universities of the Alliance — the University of Cádiz (Spain), University of Gdańsk (Poland), Kiel University (Germany), University of Split (Croatia) and NORD University (Norway) — to discuss new pedagogical approaches and ways of fostering cooperation between academia and society.
Over four days, the programme combined theoretical sessions, practical workshops and the exchange of good practices. The opening day focused on the conceptual foundations of Pedagogical and Social Innovation, with contributions from Professors António Fragoso, Sandra Valadas, Marisol Correia, and guest speakers from the University of Beira Interior.
The second day highlighted flagship projects developed at UAlg, such as REVITALGARVE, Accessibility in Tourism, the Oenology Laboratory, and the Algarve Design Meeting.
On the third day, participants travelled to the Island of Culatra to learn about a long-term partnership between the University and the local community — a living example of sustainability and social innovation.
The final day featured a panel on the Family Management of Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs), followed by sessions exploring Innovative Participatory Methodologies, Childhood, Academia and the Community, and UAlg’s Participatory Budget, concluding with a collective reflection session.
The Staff Week was academically coordinated by Professor António Fragoso, with technical support from the International Relations and Mobility Office (GRIM) of the University of Algarve.
This initiative reinforces SEA-EU’s commitment to promoting innovation, collaboration and sustainable development among its coastal European universities.
