Project Coordinator
IPB
Instituto Politécnico de Bragança (IPB) is a Portuguese Public Higher Education Institution embracing a wide area of knowledge and technology, including agriculture sciences, arts and sports, education and teachers’ training, informatics and engineering, administration and management, health, communication and tourism. Nowadays, IPB is a multicultural institution, and 37% of its students are international students from all over the world. IPB is also recognised for its performance in applied research and regional engagement.
IPB project team:
Cláudia S. Costa works as an Adjunct Professor at the School of Public Management, Communication, and Tourism at EsACT-IPB, which is a part of Bragança Polytechnic University. She coordinates the master’s degree program in Local Government and serves as the President of the Scientific Committee. She holds a degree, a master’s degree, and a PhD in Public Administration, from the University of Minho. She is a member of the Research Center in Basic Education (CIEB) and collaborates with both the Center for Research, Development, and Innovation in Tourism (CiTUR Guarda) and the Research Center in Political Science (CICP). Her research focused on Public Administration and Public Policies, with a particular emphasis on local governance, tourism public policies, co-creation, and innovation in the public sector. Additionally, she is keen on exploring active methodologies and their impact on Higher Education.
Inês Barbedo, Ph.D. in Mathematics and Applications, is Adjunct Professor at Instituto Politécnico de Bragança, Portugal. Member of the Game Design course committee, co-coordinator of the Department of Informatics and Mathematics, and Integrated member of Center for Transdisciplinary Research in Education and Development (CITED). The main academic interests are Discrete Mathematics, Game Theory, Game Design, Active Learning Methodologies and Innovation. Integrates, as member, teams of several projects, national and international, about innovation, co-creation and future foresight. She is a Facilitator of several challenges developed in partnership with the community (companies and institutions), in a context of multidisciplinary, collaborative, innovative and creative work.
Bárbara Barroso, Adjunct Professor at the Bragança Polytechnic University| Instituto Politécnico de Bragança (IPB), Portugal. Course Director of the Game Design degree and member of the Scientific Committee of the master’s in Digital Games Design and Development. Currently holds the role of Coordinator of the Department of Arts and Humanities at the School of Public Management, Communication and Tourism (EsACT-IPB). Collaborates with the applied interdisciplinary research unit CeDRI (Research Centre in Digitalization and Intelligent Robotics). Works as Women in Games Ambassador and is vice-president of the Portuguese Society of Videogame Sciences and Arts. Main academic interests are within the multidisciplinary field of Games Research, with special emphasis in the areas of Game Design, User Experience, Serious Games, VR / AR / MR, as well as within Active Learning Methodologies and Innovation. Integrates teams of several projects about innovation, co-creation and future foresight.
Márcio Martins has a PhD in Tourism from the University of Aveiro, a master’s degree in Natural Hazards Management and a degree in Geography from the Faculty of Arts and Humanities of the University of Porto. He is currently an Adjunct Professor at the Polytechnic University of Bragança (IPB) and his main research areas are the spatiotemporal behaviour of tourists, tourist tracking technologies, backpacker tourism and Tourism Public Policies . He is currently an integrated member of CITED – IPB’s Centre for Transdisciplinary Research in Education and Development, a collaborating member of the Centre for Research, Development and Innovation in Tourism (CITUR) and also of IPB’s Management Applied Research Unit (UNIAG). He is the author of a book, several book chapters and several scientific articles in international journals (Scopus/WoS).
Vera Ferro-Lebres, lecturer since 2005 in Bragança Polytechnic University| Instituto Politécnico de Bragança (IPB), Portugal. Has during past years assumed the role of degree coordination for Dietetics and Nutrition, co coordination of the Diagnostic and Therapeutic Technologies Department. Is a member of IPB Presidency team, where assumes the role of Pro President for Entrepreneurship, Employability and Formative Innovation. Is the coordinator of the Entrepreneurship and Employability Office and pedagogical innovation and co-creation projects. Coordinates and integrates different teams and dozens of research and community action projects funded by national and international entities. Has published several peer reviewed papers. Has integrated several organizational and scientific committees for national and international conferences. Has been invited to participate as speaker for national and International conferences.
Raquel Rodrigues, since 2004 has been working in Bragança Polytechnic University| Instituto Politécnico de Bragança (IPB) in the International Relations Office managing the implementation of cooperation programs with a specific focus on strategic partnerships. She has collaborated with diverse stakeholders from different cultural backgrounds, managing project activities, fostering positive relationships and ensuring effective cooperation among team members.
Catarina Silva with a degree in Law of Solicitors and a Master’s in Local Government from the School of Public Management, Communication and Tourism (EsACT-IPB), she stood out for her innovative work in Portuguese municipalities. She carried out a professional internship, which was the subject of a final report: “The Culture of Innovation in Portuguese Municipalities: the Application of a Tool”, with two important organisations that carried out projects, activities, and training in the field of public administration and local studies: the Instituto Nacional de Administração, I. P. (INA) and Fundação para os Estudos e Formação nas Autarquias Locais (FEFAL). She has developed a tool to promote innovation in local authorities, to improve the efficiency and transparency of public services and to encourage citizen participation. She is currently continuing her research at the CITED – IPB’s Centre for Transdisciplinary Research in Education and Development, as a researcher in the INNLocal project, where she continues her mission to promote innovative practices in local public management.
Project Partners
HSB
The City University of Applied Sciences Bremen (in German: Hochschule Bremen, HSB) traces back as far as 1894. Today, around 8.800 students are matriculated in 69 degree courses (thereof 43 Bachelor-/26 Master’s courses) in five faculties. Three of these bachelor degree courses address public administration specifically, a ‘dual’ course of study where students are paid civil servants, the ‘Dual Course of Study in Public administration (DSPA)’, the course ‘European Studies in Business and Administration (ESWV)’ and the new ‘Dual Course of Study on Digitalisation in Business and Administration (DSWVI)’. These are complemented by the ‘Master in European Studies (MES)’, offering a European focus on administration and business. An international, practice-oriented focus is a core characteristic of all degree courses of the University of Applied Sciences, which is reflected in the obligatory, often international, internship phases.
HSB project team:
Prof. Dr. Christiane Trüe LL.M. (East Anglia) is Professor for Public Law, in particular constitutional and administrative law, including European Union law, at the University of Applied Sciences in Bremen. She is also the Course Director of the Master in European Studies programme at the university’s International Graduate Center since 2016 and of the Dual Course of Study in Public Administration (Bachelor) since 2023. She has published monographs and articles in the areas of her denomination, as well as in international, EU, German and Chinese environmental and energy law. Her professional experience includes the civil service of one of the federal states in Germany as well as practising as an advocate in international law firms, her previous academic experience scholarly work at the Universities of Marburg and Göttingen in Germany and work as a German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) lecturer at an English University (East Anglia).
Link to detailed CV: https://www.hs-bremen.de/person/ctruee/
Lydia Scholz
Prof. Dr. Lydia Scholz – HSB Hochschule Bremen (hs-bremen.de)
Shazia Wülbers
INA
Created in 1979, the Portuguese National Institute of Administration, I.P. (INA) has as fundamental mission the creation, transmission, and dissemination of knowledge in the field of Public Administration, contributing – through training, capacitation, scientific research, and technical advisory services –, to the innovation and modernisation of the Public Administration and to the qualification, training, and development of its human resources. The implementation of its mission aims to work together with Higher Education Institutes, benefiting from their experience and technical and pedagogical support, as well as in articulation with the central and sectoral bodies responsible for Public Administration reform.
INA project team:
Abel Carreira has a degree in Psychology from the Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences of the University of Lisbon and a master’s degree in Social and Organisational Psychology, specialising in Organisational Behaviour, from the University Institute of Lisbon. He is a member of the Portuguese Psychologists’ Association and is a specialist in Work, Social and Organisational Psychology. In his career, Abel has held different professional roles in academia and in the private and public sectors. In academia, he was a lecturer in the areas of organisational behaviour and people management and a member of the Scientific Council of a Polytechnic Institute; in the private sector, he was Director of Organisational Development and Human Capital Projects; in the public sector, he was Director of Services for the area of Knowledge, Innovation and Development at the National Institute of Administration, I. P., where he is currently a member of the Board of Directors. He is also a member of the Scientific Council of CLAD (Latin American Centre of Administration for Development).
Luís Mota is Head of Knowledge, Innovation and Development Directorate from the National Institute of Administration (INA) since December 2023. He holds a PhD in Public Administration (2016, Univ. Lisbon) and a Post-doc in Public Policies (2019, Univ. Aveiro). He is a researcher at INA, the Portucalense Institute for Legal Sciences – section of Leiria (IJP-IPLeiria) and the Research Unit on Governance, Competitiveness and Public Policies – Univ. Aveiro (GOVCOPP-UA). He is a tenure-track Assistant Professor at the Polytechnic of Leiria since 2021 (currently in a secondment at INA). His research interests are public policy-making, network governance, public sector reform and social integration of vulnerable groups. He is the coordinator of the Section on Public Administration and Public Policies from the Portuguese Association of Political Science (APCP). He has been a trainer of public managers and public workers since 2018 (CAGEP and CAT-Inicial).
Patrícia Sanches graduated in Business Management from the International University in 1999 and is currently completing a master’s degree in Public Administration at ISCTE. She is a holder of INA’s Public Management Training Program (FORGEP). She worked as a senior officer at the Ministry of Education and Science, in the areas of management control and planning. She has been Head of INA’s Strategic Planning and Partnerships Department since 2020.
Rita Soares has been Head of INA’s Communication and Public Relations Department since March 1st 2023. She worked as Communication Officer of the National Focal Point of European Economic Area Financial Mechanism – EEA Grants Portugal from 2018 until March 2023, as Communication Officer in Agência Nacional para a Qualificação e o Ensino Profissional – ANQEP from 2012 to 2018 and as Communication Officer in Agência Nacional para a Qualificação – ANQ from 2011 to 2012. From 2001 to 2011 she worked as Senior Office in a job centre in Instituto do Emprego e Formação Profissional – IEFP.
Catarina Almeida has a PhD in Ancient History (2017, FLUL/FCT scholarship), MA in History – Egyptology (2009, FCSH-UNL), BA in Educational Training (2005, FLUL), and BA in History (2003, FLUL). Her research interests lie in multi/interdisciplinary studies within the Humanities and other Social Sciences, with emphasis on historical and cultural studies. She holds a position at the Knowledge, Innovation, and Development Directorate of INA, IP. She has been working in the field of digital government and innovation in the public sector for the past years in an international relations role at AMA, IP (2020-2023), and previously as a science and technology project manager (2017-2020). Currently undertaking a Professional Master’s program in Digitalization of Public Administration (ISCTE), focusing on complex and multifaceted challenges related to the training and capacitation of Public Administration amid transformation, particularly regarding emerging technologies.
Maria João Neves, who holds a bachelor’s degree in management and public administration from the Technical University of Lisbon and two postgraduate degrees in Economics and Public Policy and in Leadership, and Team Development. Her research interests are focused on Innovation, Skills Development and Organizational Transformation.
Mónica Martins who holds a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology from the Universidade Nova de Lisboa and a Postgraduate degree in Human Resources from ISCTE – Instituto Universitário de Lisboa. Her research interests are focused on Foresight, Leadership of Executives, Innovation, and innovative teaching methodologies.
Graça Brites holds a degree in European Studies from the University of Lisbon and a postgraduate degree in Digitalization in Public Administration from ISCTE-University Institute of Lisbon. Her research interests focus on interdisciplinary studies in the fields of Humanities and Social Sciences, with a particular interest in public administration, sustainability, educational innovation, and the internationalization of higher education. She currently works at the Knowledge, Innovation, and Development Directorate of INA, IP, where she is involved in integrated scientific and applied research for the development of innovative solutions in public administration. Her professional experience also includes positions at the Faculty of Sciences of the University of Lisbon, the Faculty of Sciences of the University of Porto, the ISCTE Business School, and the Ministry of Education and Science.
Vanina Marcelino has a degree in Educational Sciences (Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences-University of Lisbon) and a Master’s degree in Human Resources Management (ISCTE-INDEG), with a thesis centered on the assessment of learning transfer. She has accumulated experience in the design of training models, curriculum development, competency diagnosis and training evaluation. She is currently involved in projects related to knowledge, training and innovation. She is also interested in human rights and the intergenerational approach, talent management/employee experience, competency-based training design and mental health in the workplace.
Susana Sobral is doing a PhD in Public Administration and Policies and holds a bachelor and master’s in Public Administration. She has two postgraduate degrees, one in Accounting and Public Management and another in Human Resources Management. Her research interests are centered on collaborative and network governance, open government, innovation, and public policies analysis. She currently works at the Knowledge Directorate from INA, I.P.
FEFAL
The Foundation for Studies and Training in Local Authorities (FEFAL Foundation) was established on July 28, 2018, by the National Association of Portuguese Municipalities, and began operating on January 1, 2019, in Coimbra. FEFAL serves as the central training institution for local public administration in Portugal. Empowered by the government, it certifies and accredits training programs, being also the only entity to carry out mandatory training actions for local administration. FEFAL’s goals include modernizing local administration through training, research, technical advice, and publications. It offers national-level training, research, technical cooperation, and specialized studies. Recently, it launched a Qualifying Centre for Local Administration to enhance the skills of public administration workers. Is has its own Training Program for Innovation in Municipalities which aims to develop technical and behavioral skills, fostering a culture of continuous innovation and experimentation within municipal organizations.
FEFAL project team:
Carina Gomes is PhD in Sociology – Cities and Urban Cultures (University of Coimbra). She was a researcher at the Center for Social Studies, at the Cities, Cultures and Architecture Research Group.
Between 2008 and 2013, she was an invited assistant at the Catholic Portuguese University, teaching Social Sciences and Research Methods. From October 2013 to October 2021 she was a councilor of the Coimbra City Council, with delegated powers in the areas of culture, management of cultural facilities, tourism and youth. In November 2021, she started working at FEFAL, being now the Coordinator of the Centro Qualifica – Qualifying Center for Local Administration.
Catarina Ribeiro has a degree in Law from the University of Coimbra and a master’s degree in Human Resources Management from Coimbra Business School. She passed her Bar Examinations in 2006 and went on to do extensive work in the legal area. She has worked as a Procedural Assistant, as a Jurist and as a Human Resources Technician. She currently works at FEFAL – Fundação para os Estudos e Formação nas Autarquias Locais, as a Jurist, as a Trainer and as a Training Manager. She is, since 2021, 1st Secretary in the Parish Council of Santa Clara and Castelo Viegas (Coimbra) and Chairman of the Board of the General Assembly of Águas de Coimbra, E.M. She is co-author of the book “Liderança no Feminino e Masculino: Perspetivas Diferenciadas sobre o Impacto na Gestão da Mudança nas Organizações”, published in 2022.
SLU
The Silesian University in Opava is a small regional university that currently has five units: the Faculty of Philosophy and Science in Opava, the Faculty of Business and Entrepreneurship in Karvina, the Faculty of Public Policies in Opava, the Institute of Mathematics in Opava and the Institute of Physics in Opava. Although the Silesian University in Opava with its 6,500 students and 300 academic staff is one of the smaller Czech universities, it offers almost a hundred study programmes and fields of study in both Czech and English in all forms and types, from Bachelor’s, through postgraduate Master’s to PhD. The Faculty of Public Policies in Opava, whose staff are involved in the project INNLocal, focuses primarily on the instruction of students mainly in professional degree programs in areas of so-called helping professions (such as nursing, midwifery, dental hygiene, social pathology and prevention, social welfare, special education, education of the elderly, etc.) and on education usable in a wide range of sectors of public administration and social policy.
SLU project team:
Lukáš Vomlela works as an assistant professor and researcher at the Institute of Public Administration and Social Policy at the Faculty of Public Policies in Opava. He graduated in political science from the Faculty of Arts of Palacký University in Olomouc. He specializes in the issues of political systems, political parties, system of public administration as well as in transborder cooperation. He actively participates in domestic and foreign scientific conferences and publishes in scientific proceedings and journals. He also developed his educational skills through professional internships within the ERASMUS + and CEEPUS programmes. In his pedagogical activities he teaches subjects in Czech, Polish and English.
Pavel Tuleja is Head of the Institute of Public Administration and Social Policy at the Faculty of Public Policies in Opava, the Vice-Rector for Strategy and Communication at the Silesian University in Opava, and the former Rector of the University. He graduated in economics at VSB – Technical University in Ostrava, where he also received his PhD and was appointed associate professor in economics. In his scientific and educational activities, he specializes in the field of theoretical economics and public economics. He actively participates in domestic and foreign scientific conferences and publishes in scientific proceedings and journals. Since 2020, he has also been active in politics, when he having been elected first as a member of the Moravian-Silesian Regional Council and then as a member of the Statutory City of Havířov Council.
Lucie Kamrádová is an assistant professor and researcher at the Institute of Public Administration and Social Policy at the Faculty of Public Policies in Opava and Chairwoman of the Academic Senate of Silesian University in Opava. She graduated in public administration (master degree) and economy and management (PhD). She specializes in public administration and social responsibility. She actively participates in domestic and foreign scientific conferences and publishes in scientific proceedings and journals. She developed he educational skills through professional internships within the ERASMUS + and CEEPUS programmes.
Eva Prokšová has been working as a project manager at Silesian University in Opava since June 2018. She is the Head of the Development and Project Management Department at the Faculty of Public Policies in Opava. She is involved in several projects co-financed by the EU, the International Visegrad Fund, the EEA and Norway Grants and various national sources of funding.
STARS EU
The Bragança Polytechnic University, the City University of Applied Sciences and the Silesian University in Opava are members of the Strategic Alliance for Regional Transition (STARS EU). STARS EU is an alliance between nine complementary European universities to establish channels of collaboration in initiatives of different types, seeking to promote the exchange of ideas, people and innovation in both research and teaching innovation in the classic functions of the university is necessary in the face of a future of unprecedented social change.