A biblioteca escolar como espaço de inclusão

Neste estudo pretende-se conhecer de que modo a biblioteca escolar contribui para promover o sucesso educativo dos alunos com necessidades educativas especiais de caráter permanente (NEE). A questão em análise é abordada com recurso a uma estratégia qualitativa e a um quadro metodológico de igual natureza. Optou-se pelo estudo de caso e pela entrevista semi-diretiva aos docentes como principal instrumento de recolha de dados. O tratamento da informação recolhida na entrevista efetua-se através da análise de conteúdo, uma vez que é a técnica que melhor permite descodificar o quadro de referência dos sujeitos entrevistados. A análise documental e o inquérito por questionário aos alunos foram usados como instrumentos complementares. Os protagonistas deste estudo são quatro docentes e dez alunos: duas p3rofessoras bibliotecárias, dois docentes de Educação Especial e dez alunos com NEE do terceiro ciclo. O contexto engloba duas bibliotecas escolares de dois Agrupamentos de Escolas do Algarve de freguesias geograficamente distintas: uma do litoral (freguesia de Olhão, concelho de Olhão) e outra do barrocal (freguesia de Paderne, concelho de Albufeira). O estudo pretende conhecer se a biblioteca escolar responde às necessidades dos alunos com NEE, qual a importância que tem ao nível do ensino/aprendizagem e inclusão deste público-alvo, e avaliar até que ponto se concretizam os princípios da biblioteca inclusiva preconizados por vários organismos, nomeadamente pela Rede de Bibliotecas Escolares (RBE) e International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions/United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (IFLA/UNESCO).

Implementation of a quality system in joint master programmes

Joint master programmes are systems which by default demand a proper quality system in order to sustain and improve. Objective of this thesis is analysing and proposing solutions to difficulties associated with the implementation of a quality management system to joint master programmes, with the focus on international joint master programmes. The application of the analysis to the Erasmus Mundus joint master programme European Master in Quality in Analytical Laboratories (EMQAL) is discussed. QA systems implementation in HEIs in Europe is an ongoing process, and implementation of such systems in JPs is one step further to enhancing quality in higher education in Europe. The issue closely discussed in this thesis is: should QMS be developed independently from the institutions, or should the institutions, when developing their quality management systems, take into account the (future) development of joint courses and prepare their quality procedures accordingly? A quality management system is normally developed for one organization, and different aspects of cooperation are considered within. A joint master programme is a result of successful cooperation of two or more organizations; therefore a development of its quality management system must be approached in a different manner. This thesis proposes a QMS with emphasis both on the HEI and the consortium. Different processes in the QMS can be managed independently at the level of the HEI or at the level of the consortium. Most processes in joint master programmes should be designed in programmes’ and institutions’ QMSs. Quality of a joint master programme cannot be analyzed separately from the higher education institutions which are organizing it. Comparative analysis of organization of one Erasmus Mundus Master programme to the solutions proposed in discussion showed that from all of the aspects considered, processes in EMQAL are organized in harmony with the proposed delegation of processes of the QMS for a joint master programme. The solutions proposed in the discussion are based on theoretical application of the quality principles and concepts. Comparison to the quality processes and procedures in an existing EM programme showed that analysis is applicable in practice.

Data storage system for wireless sensor networks

Dissertação de mestrado, Engenharia Informática, Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, Universidade do Algarve, 2015