Researcher Laura Oliveira (RISE-Health/ICBAS-UP) will be one of six lecturers and researchers to receive the “Innovative Teaching Practice” (PPI) Award, an accolade organised by the Educational Innovation Unit of the Rectorate of the University of Porto (UP), which annually recognises the most innovative teaching proposals developed by UP lecturers.

With this recognition, the researcher from the RISE-Health Research Unit, through the project “Neuro-Learning in Action: Integration of Neuroeducation, Critical AI and Active Methodologies in the Teaching of Neurophysiology”, will receive the first prize, worth €3,000.

“I received this award with great pride and feel very honoured to have been distinguished with the pedagogical innovation award,” says Laura Oliveira (RISE-Health/ICBAS-UP), emphasising that “for me, teaching is always a two-way process. In this project, the students learnt from me and I learnt from them, and that, for me, was extremely important”.

According to the expert, “this is a project grounded in a pedagogical model that aims to integrate the science of learning – particularly neuroeducation – with student-centred methodologies, as well as the critical use of emerging technologies, such as Artificial Intelligence (AI). In this context, students use AI systems not as substitutes for scientific reasoning, but as objects of critical analysis, assessing the reliability of the generated responses and comparing them with validated biomedical knowledge. “This approach has fostered active student engagement and contributed to greater equity and knowledge transfer in the learning process. In line with international guidelines, such as those from the OECD and UNESCO, the pedagogical model enables the simultaneous development of scientific skills, critical thinking and digital literacy—essential competencies in the training of future healthcare professionals,” she explains.

The proposal led by Laura Oliveira introduces a “transformation in the teaching of Neurophysiology by integrating principles of neuroeducation, active methodologies, the flipped classroom model, critical literacy in supervised artificial intelligence and humanistic reflection”, as reported on the UP News Portal.

In addition to the initiative led by Laura Oliveira, this edition of the “Innovative Teaching Practice” Award will recognise work focused on teaching in veterinary medicine, architecture and the future of the environment in the classroom.

The presentation of the 2026 “Innovative Pedagogical Practice” Award will take place during the Solemn Session of University Day 2026, which this year will be held on 23 March, from 3.00 pm, in the Great Hall of the Rectorate of the University of Porto.