Initiative distinguishes the best teaching and learning practices at UMinho and will take three teachers to the “European First Year Experience Conference”.

The University of Minho announced the attribution of the EPIC UMinho Pedagogical Innovation Award to professors Celina Leão, from the School of Engineering, Cristina Aguiar, from the School of Sciences, and Sara Balonas, from the Institute of Social Sciences. The award is intended to recognize innovative pedagogical practices with an impact on the quality of learning and student success and the works were distinguished by the jury for excellence and potential for replicability.

The selection process evaluated applications from teachers and researchers who developed and implemented differentiating pedagogical approaches in the curricular units of the academic years 2024/2025 and 2025/2026. The jury, which thanks all candidates for their commitment, analyzed in detail the seven admitted proposals based on their pedagogical impact, innovation and contribution to improving the learning experience.

The prize funds the participation of the winners in the European First Year Conference, an initiative that will take place from 10 to 12 June 2026 at the University of Szeged (Hungary). This initiative aims to give visibility to UMinho’s pedagogical work, promote the sharing of good practices and reinforce an institutional culture oriented towards academic innovation.

Celina Pinto Leão, researcher at the ALGORITMI Centre, was awarded the 1st EPIC UMinho Pedagogical Innovation Prize, with the project “Z-Tec: pedagogical innovation from the classroom to the community”.

This project is developed by a multidisciplinary team, which includes other researchers from the ALGORITMI Centre, namely Anabela Alves, Filomena Soares and Vinícius Silva.

The work in question is part of the Curricular Unit “Preparing Generation Z beyond Technologies (Z-Tec)”, which promotes active, interdisciplinary and socially committed learning.

The distinction achieved by the professor of the Department of Production and Systems of the School of Engineering recognizes innovative pedagogical practices with an impact on the quality of learning and student success, highlighting projects with high potential for replicability.

The School of Engineering congratulates Professor Celina Leão for this well-deserved recognition, which greatly honors our school!