Special Interest Groups will allow those interested in a particular field of specialization to connect with others and share ideas and information. Below is a list of our working groups, their abbreviated names and contact information.

To enroll a Working Group please fill the following template and e-mail it to us at ptais@ptais.apsi.pt


 

Co-chairs

Victor Barros
 | Researcher Fellow, University of Minho, Guimarães, Portugal
vfbarros@dsi.uminho.pt

Anabela Mesquita | Polytechnic Institute of Porto, Porto, Portugal
abmesquita@gmail.com

Secretary

Isabel Ferreira | Management School, Polytechnic Institute of Cávado and Ave
iferreiragisa@gmail.com

Scope

Promote a global neutral space that works towards the balance of men and women in technology and contributes to reducing the gender gap in the IST field within the Higher Education in Portugal.

Aims and goals

To provide an open space which facilitates exploration and discussion of gender issues experienced within the Higher Education in Portugal as way to raise awareness of the gender equality and to promote equality of opportunity for gender minorities within the Higher Education in Portugal.

To address, through training and meetings, the issues that affect women and gender minorities in the workplace as way to promote supportive workplace environments, building closer professional relationships in the workplace and encouraging the career development of women and gender minorities in the research, teaching and management within the Higher Education in Portugal. (e.g., issues that may be preventing women and gender minorities from putting themselves forward for leadership positions within the Higher Education in Portugal; Empower women and gender minorities to contribute further to the development and dissemination of high-quality research and practice, etc.)

Raise awareness and understanding of the cultural, social, political and psychological processes underpinning gender inequalities.

Promote the positive visibility and diversity of women and gender minorities in organisations and celebrate their achievements.

Official website

https://equal-ist.eu/

Information Systems Project Management
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Coordinator:
João Eduardo Quintela Alves de Sousa Varajão, University of Minho,
varajao@dsi.uminho.pt

Vice-Coordinator:
António Rui Trigo Ribeiro, Polytechnic Institute of Coimbra, ISCAC,
aribeiro@iscac.pt

Scope

The group focuses on the management of information systems projects, serving as a forum and platform to unify efforts aimed at promoting and enhancing research, teaching, and technical-scientific dissemination in this field.

Goals and Objectives

  • Bring together the research and teaching community with interests in the field.
  • Establish a forum for discussing ideas and generating collaboration opportunities.
  • Promote an observatory for information systems project management in Portugal, encompassing practice, research, and education.
  • Develop initiatives to disseminate work carried out in the field to various interested communities, enhancing its visibility and societal impact.

Founding Members:

Official Website
https://sites.google.com/view/apsigpsi

Innovation, Sustainability, and Transparency: Challenges and Opportunities in the Management of Open Data and Participatory Governance Policies
Pending Approval
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Victor Barros | University of Minho, UM, Portugal
vfbarros@dsi.uminho.pt

Ilka Kawashita | University of Phoenix, USA
ikawashita@email.phoenix.edu

Isabel Ferreira | Instituto Politécnico do Cávado e do Ave, IPCA, Portugal
iferreira@ipca.pt


Short description of the proposed track:

In a global context of rapid digital transformation, open data emerges as an essential tool to promote transparency and effectiveness in city governance. However, this data disclosure raises substantial concerns, including information security in increasingly interconnected urban environments and issues related to protecting citizens' sensitive data. We also consider selective transparency and potential manipulations of open data, which can compromise data integrity and hinder citizen's trust in government. Addressing these concerns is crucial to developing policies and practices that ensure open data’s ethical and inclusive use, maximizing its benefits and mitigating associated risks.


The Working Group "Innovation and Transparency: Challenges and Opportunities of Open Data and Participatory Governance Policies" aims to gather scientific contributions that provide a broad view of open data’s advances, challenges, and opportunities in the context of smart cities.


This WG examines how smart cities integrate open data to promote evidence-based public management. It also investigates the fundamental role of open data in building resilient cities, enabling a swift and coordinated response to natural disasters and climate change.


We aim to understand how open data platforms can stimulate innovation and collaboration between the public and private sectors. Furthermore, we want to understand the emerging models and frameworks related to open data and their impact on cities.

Our objectives extend beyond research, focusing on actionable efforts to strengthen knowledge and practical applications of open data policies. To this end, the working group proposes a range of collaborative activities:

  • Collaborative Article Writing: Facilitate the co-creation of scientific papers and reports on current issues, innovations, and case studies related to open data and participatory governance.
  • Project Proposal Development: Identify funding opportunities and collaboratively design project proposals aimed at exploring and implementing open data solutions in smart cities.
  • Workshops and Training: Organize hands-on workshops that equip participants with technical skills and knowledge on open data management, data privacy, and transparency best practices.
  • Lecture Series and Speaker Cycles: Host periodic lectures and panel discussions with experts to address pressing issues, share best practices, and discuss case studies from various global contexts.
  • Public Consultations and Stakeholder Engagement: Facilitate discussions with community members, policymakers, and industry representatives to better understand public needs and improve transparency in data policies.

Through these initiatives, this WG aims to create a dynamic knowledge-sharing ecosystem, facilitating innovation in open data practices while addressing the ethical and legal complexities associated with open data, particularly regarding privacy and data governance, protection of citizens’ data privacy and the responsibility to manage this information..

Topics of interest include, but are not limited to:

  • Successful Open Data Initiatives: Exploration of specific examples where open data has led to significant social, economic, or environmental benefits.
  • Barriers to Open Data Accessibility: Research addressing technical, cultural, and legal hurdles in implementing open data policies.
  • Open Data in Crisis Response: papers analyzing how open data has been used in emergencies, like natural disasters or public health crises, to improve response and recovery efforts.
  • Ethics and Privacy Concerns in Open Data: Research balancing transparency with the need to protect individual privacy and security.
  • Economic Impacts of Open Data: Research evaluating how open data contributes to economic development and innovation.
  • Transparency in Public Procurement: Research how open data can be used to ensure fairness, efficiency, and transparency in public contracts and procurement processes.
  • Open Data and Environmental Sustainability: Research on how open datasets can support environmental policy-making and promote sustainability initiatives.
  • Open Data for Public Sector Innovation: Research demonstrating how open data can drive innovation in public services, from transportation to healthcare.
  • Data Governance and Citizen Participation: Research on strategies for stakeholder engagement in decision-making and management processes of data infrastructures
  • Data Literacy and Privacy

Contacts

Universidade do Minho
Departamento de Sistemas de Informação
Campus de Azurém
4800-058 Guimaraes

Tel: +351 253 510 317
Fax: +351 253 510 300