ASAP Project seeks public input on Digital Education Recommendations
The ASAP (A Systemic Approach to Social Media and Pre-Adolescents) project is inviting educators, parents, policymakers, and stakeholders to contribute to a comprehensive set of recommendations addressing young people's engagement with social media and digital platforms.
Following extensive research across five European countries, the ASAP consortium has developed recommendations that recognize the complex relationship between technology, education, and youth development. Rather than providing simple solutions, the project proposes systemic approaches that are culturally sensitive and practically applicable across diverse European contexts.
The recommendations target teachers, schools, parents, and policymakers, addressing the unprecedented opportunities and challenges that pre-adolescents face in today's digital landscape. The consortium emphasizes that these guidelines are designed to evolve through stakeholder participation and reflection.
The public consultation is open until May 31, providing an opportunity for various target groups to share feedback and help shape recommendations that reflect real-world needs and expectations.
Contributors can participate in designing what the project calls "a more balanced and enlightened digital future" for young people navigating social media platforms.
The consultation is available, with additional resources and updates available via their Instagram, YouTube channel, and newsletter.
The ASAP project (2022-1-IT02-KA220-SCH-000090043) is funded under the Erasmus+ programme.
Call for Papers Extended: Join the Future of Magazine 2025 Conference in Lisbon
The deadline for abstract submissions to the Future of Magazine (FoM) 2025 conference has been extended to 9 June 2025. Now in its second edition, this biennial international event invites scholars, practitioners and creative professionals to engage with the theme: “(Re)Thinking Magazines: Challenges and Opportunities”.
Why Attend FoM 2025?
International Keynotes
- Elena Caratti, Associate Professor, Politecnico di Milano
- Patrícia Reis, curator of Egoísta magazine
- James Hewes, Founder & Lead Consultant, Soho Consulting (FIPP)
- Jeremy Leslie, founder of magCulture
Diverse Formats
- Oral presentations
- Poster sessions (authors bring a physical poster)
- Remote panel discussions
Publication Opportunity
Outstanding papers will be invited for development and publication in the International Journal of Magazine Studies (IJMS).
Themes and Topics
This event welcomes submissions from all disciplines, including Media Studies, Cultural Studies, Sociology, Communication Design, History, Gender Studies, Business Models and beyond that address, for example:
- Magazines in the digital transition
- Social and community roles of magazines
- Magazines as cultural and artistic artefacts
- Innovation, multimedia narratives, and new business models
- Theoretical and methodological approaches to magazine analysis
- Case studies: indie, specialised, and corporate magazines
A full list of suggested topics is available on the FoM website.
Submission Guidelines
- Abstracts: up to 500 words (incl. references)
- Poster proposals: up to 500 words (excl. figures/references)
- Submissions are double-blind; please anonymize your document.
- Accepted poster presenters must prepare a physical paper or fabric poster for display.
For inquiries, please contact
Carla Cerqueira Publishes Groundbreaking Studies on Gender in Academia and Sport
CICANT researcher Carla Cerqueira has recently co-authored two important publications that explore gender, media, and institutional cultures in both academia and sports.
1. Sexual Harassment in Portuguese Academia
Garraio, J., Santos, M. H., & Cerqueira, C. (2025). Journal of Gender Studies
This article investigates sexual harassment in Portuguese academia through the perspectives of academic women, as victims, bystanders, and institutional actors. Based on interviews with female researchers, the study highlights:
- A persistent culture of silence and protection of perpetrators;
- Low reporting rates, due to fear of retaliation and distrust in institutional procedures;
- The triple burden placed on women to endure, witness, and lead change.
The research underscores the urgent need for stronger institutional mechanisms and gender-aware policies in higher education.
2. Motherhood in the Olympic Context
Patatt, C., Cabral, M., & Cerqueira, C. (2025). Communication & Sport
This study analyzes how motherhood among Olympic athletes is portrayed in leading sports news websites in Brazil and Spain. It explores how media narratives:
- Frame mothers’ return to sport as dramatic "comebacks";
- Reinforce or challenge traditional ideals of femininity and motherhood;
- Shape public perceptions of female athletes and their capabilities.
The research contributes to broader discussions on gendered representations in sports media.
These publications reflect Carla Cerqueira’s ongoing commitment to critical research at the intersection of communication, gender, and power structures - central themes in CICANT’s mission.
CICANT and FilmEU join forces in new european innovation project: C-Accelerate Plus
CICANT announces Lusófona University's leadership in C-Accelerate Plus, a new project funded by the EIT Higher Education Initiative. Building on the success of the original C-Accelerate, this initiative aims to strengthen innovation and entrepreneurial capacity in higher education institutions across the cultural and creative sectors.
Rooted in the FilmEU alliance, C-Accelerate Plus expands the network to include partners from Lithuania, Bulgaria, and Slovakia—bringing new perspectives from Widening and RIS countries. The consortium also includes key industry players like SP Televisão.
The project will roll out accelerator programmes, micro-credentials, and short courses, while also developing joint infrastructures such as creative factories and an Artistic Intelligence Transfer Office. Through these activities, it seeks to foster interdisciplinary collaboration, mentoring networks, and long-term innovation strategies in the arts and media.
CICANT co organizes Summer School on African Studies in Portuguese
CICANT co organizes, through its LabCLIP research lab, the upcoming Summer School “Estudos Africanos em Português: Desafios Epistemológicos e Metodológicos”, taking place from 30 June to 4 July 2025, in a hybrid format (in-person and online).
Organized in partnership with the Lusófona University - University Center of Porto, this initiative emerges in a year of historical significance: the 50th anniversary of independence of Angola, Cape Verde, Mozambique, and São Tomé and Príncipe. The Summer School follows a series of critical reflections initiated in 2024 during the centenary of Amílcar Cabral’s birth and the 50th anniversary of Guinea-Bissau’s independence.
This event aims to explore the epistemological and methodological challenges involved in the configuration of African Studies in Portuguese, engaging with post-colonial and decolonial perspectives. Structured around four thematic axes—African Studies in Portuguese; Culture and Liberation Movements; African Literatures and Cultures in Portuguese; and Colonial Memories and Decolonial Proposals—the program invites participants to engage in deep interdisciplinary reflection and knowledge exchange.
The Summer School will feature sessions with renowned scholars, including Elísio Macamo, Francisco Topa, Julião Soares Sousa, Lurdes Macedo, Maciel Santos, Orquídea Ribeiro, Sheila Khan, and Tom Stennett.
Whether you are a student, researcher, or practitioner in the fields of social sciences, humanities, or cultural studies, this School offers a unique opportunity to:
- Critically reflect on the legacy of the PALOP liberation movements;
- Discuss contemporary methodological frameworks for studying Portuguese-speaking African countries;
- Contribute to the reconfiguration and international recognition of African Studies in Portuguese.
Registrations are open and available in both in-person and online modalities, with reduced fees for PALOP nationals and Lusófona students. A certificate of participation will be issued, and selected works will have the opportunity to be published.
For more information, follow CICANT’s updates or contact the organizing team.
