Between April 8th and 10th, first-cycle students in Psychology and second-cycle students in Forensic Psychology attended the II International Congress “Educating for Freedom,” which took place in Matosinhos. The congress was organized by the Portuguese Association for Education in Prisons, in partnership with the Matosinhos City Council, the Training Center of the Matosinhos Schools Association, the João Gonçalves Zarco Secondary School, the University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro, the Open University, and the Fernando Pessoa University, with the main objective of promoting debate and the sharing of best practices in the field of education in a prison context.
The event took place at the former Vasco da Gama Canning Factory complex and brought together researchers, prison system professionals, teachers, policymakers, and representatives of national and international organizations, with the aim of reflecting on the role of education in the social reintegration of incarcerated individuals. Two undergraduate students in Psychology, involved in a project being developed at UFP by lecturers Rute Meneses, Carla Barros, and Ana Sani, participated in the congress.
In turn, seven second-cycle students in Psychology of Justice had the opportunity to present work developed within the scope of the curricular units of Community Assessment and Intervention and Psychological Assessment and Intervention in Groups, highlighting the academic work carried out throughout the semester. The students were accompanied by professors Gloria Jólluskin and Rute Meneses, responsible for the respective curricular units, who supported and guided the entire process of preparing and presenting the work. The presentations addressed different relevant themes in the field of Psychology, contributing to the debate and sharing of knowledge in the context of the congress.
Also noteworthy is the participation of Professor Gloria Jólluskin in the Organizing Committee of the congress, who was also invited to give an oral presentation, reinforcing the institution's active contribution to the reflection and promotion of education in prison contexts, within the scope of Criminology and Psychology of Justice. Participation in this congress represented an important opportunity for academic and personal enrichment, allowing students to connect with professionals and researchers, as well as to integrate into a space for reflection on education, freedom, and psychological intervention.
