Research Units
Research at Ispa – University Institute is organised into four research units, where all our faculty members develop their scientific activity.
The William James Center for Research seeks to integrate fundamental research in Psychology with its applications, developing its activity across four main areas: cognition, social cognition and body odours, health psychology, and social development. Rated Excellent by the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology, this R&D Unit, founded in 2015, ranks among the top five Psychology research units in Portugal.
Ispa is part of the largest Marine Biology R&D Unit in Portugal, a consortium involving seven universities nationwide (Ispa – University Institute, University of Lisbon, University of Coimbra, University of the Azores, University of Évora, NOVA University Lisbon, and University of Madeira).
As a centre for research and technological innovation that studies all types of marine ecosystems, it develops its activities with a focus on addressing societal problems and challenges. MARE has been rated Excellent by the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT).
This R&D Unit promotes research in areas of Applied Psychology that foster solutions to complex societal problems.
APPsyCI seeks to explore opportunities for innovation and productive interactions between research and intervention, promoting collaboration between public and private stakeholders.
EDUNOVA. ISPA, a collaborative consortium between Ispa, Nova FCT, and Nova FCSH, has as its motto “Building Bridges in Education Research: From Learners to Systems and from Diversity to Inclusion,” dedicating itself to two scientific domains: Processes and Practices in Education (SD1) and Ideas, Policies, and Social Change in Education (SD2). Each domain comprises two thematic areas. SD1 includes research on Learning Contexts, Processes, and Literacies (TA1) and Educational Knowledge and Professional Cultures of Teachers (TA2). SD2 brings together research on Educational Systems and School Organization (TA3) and Diversity and Inclusion: Curriculum, Pedagogical Practices, and Assessment (TA4).
TA1 investigates learning environments, literacy acquisition, parental involvement, and new literacies. More specifically, it investigates student motivation, the effects of programs on literacy acquisition, advances in educational robotics, and education on biodiversity, geodiversity, and socio-scientific issues.
TA2 focuses on the study of teacher professional development, teacher identity, digital pedagogy, and school organizational climate, with research topics including teacher well-being, resilience, and the effective use of formative assessment and feedback.
TA3 focuses research on education systems, public policies, collaborative networks, and methods for promoting diversity and inclusion. Specific topics include improving data collection methods and innovative approaches to educational data analysis and exploring the effectiveness of pedagogical strategies in supporting second language acquisition by migrant students.
TA4 focuses on addressing school inequalities, pedagogical differentiation, school segregation mechanisms, and inclusive education policies and practices. The research aims to deepen understanding of teachers’ differentiated teaching practices, investigate migrant students’ sense of belonging, and explore school-level factors that predict academic performance and school retention.
EDUNOVA.ISPA aims to strengthen education research by bringing together micro and macro approaches, theory and practice, and the legacies of the past and challenges of the future. It uses a rigorous scientific protocol that encompasses problem-centered research, conceptual clarity, empirical research, diversity of methodologies, and comparative analysis. Committed to strengthening research, it actively seeks funding opportunities and prioritizes knowledge transfer through advanced training programs and dissemination through various channels, while intensifying international cooperation.
