On 26 October, CIP warmly welcomed the Ambassadors to their first meeting, where participants reflected together on the importance of pedagogical innovation and the strategy for the Center's new phase.
In this new context, the Ambassadors play a key role in spreading pedagogical innovation. Working closely with their respective communities will enable them to listen, identify needs and challenges on an ongoing basis, and highlight practices, resources and people that deserve recognition and can contribute to the institutional mission – to provide the training and skills needed for educational excellence. At the same time, they co-create opportunities, promote initiatives, encourage participation and support the exchange of experiences and knowledge among members of our communities, strengthening connections within those communities, bringing people together and creating opportunities for collaboration.
The meeting provided an opportunity to discuss the Center's strategic priorities and action plan, establishing a shared framework for the collaborative work to be undertaken within the Council of Ambassadors. Guided by «Discover, Connect, Amplify», participants discussed priorities for supporting people's development, for improving educational practices and experiences and for producing and sharing pedagogical knowledge.
The session took place in an atmosphere of dialogue and participation, with a diverse range of contributions enriching the discussion and offering different perspectives on the challenges of teaching and learning, as well as on opportunities to involve communities in pedagogical innovation activities.
Students expressed enthusiasm and a willingness to help transform educational practices, both inside and outside the classroom. Their participation in the Council offers a deeper understanding of the experiences, expectations and characteristics of today's higher education students. Teaching staff highlighted the importance of pedagogical training in areas such as assessment, teaching methods and teacher–student relationships. They also valued closer links between CIP and the schools, alongside opportunities to meet in person to share experiences and work collaboratively.
This combination of collaborative work, listening and sharing reflected the network's purpose: building relationships that encourage the development and dissemination of pedagogical innovation at the Technical University of Porto.