Biography

Gabriela Portugal is an Associated teacher in the Department of Education and Psychology at the University of Aveiro (since 1984-85), having a PhD in Educational Sciences/Educational Psychology (1995). She develops research in the Research Centre for Didactics and Technology in Teacher Education (CIDTFF)

Since 1998/99, she has been the director of the education courses for early childhood teachers at the UA and, currently (2016/2017), she is the director of the Master's Degree in Pre-School and 1st Cycle of Basic Education. Within this course, she teaches the curricular units: "Experiential Practices in Childhood Settings"; "Education in the first years"; "Psychological Development of the Child", "Supervised Pedagogical Practice" and "Seminar of Educational Guidance".
Her main interests in research and intervention in the educational community are related to the following areas: - Quality promotion of educational contexts; - Evaluation in childhood education; - Pedagogical work in day care (0-3 years); Education of educators / teachers.

Main Projects:
- Coordination of the team that elaborated the pedagogical guidelines for working with children between 0 and 3 years of age, at the request of the General Directorate of Education of the Ministry of Education and of the Social Security Institute of the Ministry of Labour, Solidarity and Social Security (2017) from Portugal.
- Co-responsible of the project "Quality minimum indicators in education settings, from preschool to secondary schools, in São Tomé and Principe". A project within the framework of UNICEF action (United Nations Children's Fund) and the Ministry of Education, Culture, Science and Communication of São Tomé and Príncipe (19 july-31st december 2017)
- Researcher Responsible for the ‘Evaluation in Early Childhood Education Project’ – FCT funded project (FCOMP-01-0124-FEDER-007103) (2007-2010).
- Member of the project team ‘Promotion of Relational Competences in Early Intervention by the Video Home Training Method / Video Interaction Guidance’ - responsible investigator - Paula Santos; FCT funded project (PTDC / CPE-CED / 113484/2009) - 2010-2012.
- Responsible for the study and preparation of a curriculum proposal for early childhood education in São Tomé and Príncipe (2011-2012) - This project was funded by UNICEF, in order to support the Ministry of Education, Culture and Training of São Tomé and Príncipe.
- The Portuguese Ministry of Education, through the General Directorate for Innovation and Curriculum Development (DGIDC), developed the Project "Developing Quality in Partnerships" (DQP) (2007-2008). In this context, several case studies took place throughout 2007-2008 school year. At the UA, the project was taken over by Gabriela Portugal.
- Responsible for the Project: Developing Childhood Education in the Republic of Guinea-Bissau - a partnership work between UA and the Foundation for Education and Development of Guinea Bissau (2003-2007). The protocol established with the University of Aveiro assumed commitments regarding the development of a project of pedagogical intervention in childhood contexts that presupposed the training of teams / professionals to develop and supervise its implementation in the field.

Recent courses in ‘continuing education’ (in service education) in early childhood education:
- As Coordinator and Trainer: Experiential Education, UNAVE Training Centre, target audience: Nursery and kindergarten professionals from St. Casa da Misericórdia in Lisbon (6 courses 2016-2017, 21h each).
- As Coordinator and Trainer - Pedagogical Guidelines for working with children from 0 to 3 years, at the request of the Regional Education Directorate of Madeira, May 11-14, 2016, 16 hours of training.
- As Coordinator and Single Trainer - Training Course in Assessment in Childhood Education (CCPFC / ACC - 81128/15), 2-7 February 2015, 25 hours of training, Training Center of the Portuguese School of Mozambique.
- As Coordinator and Trainer: Training course to Analyze and discuss the pedagogical / curricular guidelines for early childhood education - Training Center of the Ministry of Education / DGE, January and February 2015, 2 editions in Lisbon and Coimbra, 18 h each.

Since 2013 - She is a member of the Organizing and Scientific Committee of the "Investigar em Educação" Journal of the Portuguese Society of Educational Sciences (SPCE) (ISSN: 2183-1793)
Finally it should be noted the participation in the review of articles for international and national journals, as well as in scientific committees of international and national conferences