NEWSLETTER #39 - April 2026
NEWSLETTER #39 - April 2026
The
University of Algarve has been recognised in the 2026 QS World
University Rankings by Subject in Hospitality & Leisure Management,
Archaeology, and Environmental Sciences. Notably, it
is the only Portuguese university ranked in Hospitality & Leisure
Management are, reinforcing its distinctive position in the field.
We
believe this achievement reflects the sustained CinTurs contributions,
whose research output and international collaboration have strengthened
the university’s global standing and impact in tourism
research.
CinTurs is pleased to announce that both the Journal of Tourism, Sustainability and Well-being and Tourism & Management Studies , have been included in the 2025 ABDC Journal Quality List , published by the Australian Business Deans Council. Both journals are classified under Field of Research 1506 (Tourism, Hospitality, and Leisure Studies). This recognition reflects the commitment of both editorial teams, reviewers, and contributors to advancing high-quality research in tourism and related fields.
Applications are now open for the Doctoral Research Forum at THE INC 2026, offering PhD candidates an opportunity to present and refine their work in an international academic environment. The forum welcomes contributions at any stage, from research proposals to final results, and promotes dialogue with experienced scholars. Participants will benefit from expert feedback, mentoring opportunities, and access to the full conference programme. The event will take place in Faro from 17-19 June 2026, with hybrid participation available.
CinTurs researcher Susana Pescada is leading the project TalentIA: Strategic Adoption of Artificial Intelligence for Talent Attraction and Retention across Different Sectors, an international and collaborative research initiative led by CinTurs that explores how Artificial Intelligence is reshaping talent management across sectors. The project is developed in collaboration with José María Biedma Ferrer (University of Cádiz) and Bernardete Sequeira (CinTurs, UAlg), within the framework of the SEA-E - European University of the Seas alliance, and is funded under the SEA-EU Seed Fund, reinforcing international research collaboration in human resource management and organisational innovation. TalentIA examines how Artificial Intelligence is transforming HR practices by mapping current applications, identifying benefits, risks and challenges, and developing recommendations for a more ethical, transparent and human-centred use of AI. The project is currently in its data collection phase, involving professionals in the field of human resource management.
The integration of Generative AI into academic research raises pressing questions about research integrity and epistemic responsibility. A new article by CinTurs Advisory Board Member Alfonso Vargas-Sánchez, together with CinTurs researchers José António C. Santos, Miguel Puig-Cabrera, Margarida Custódio Santos, and Antonio Juan Briones-Peñalver, addresses precisely this challenge. Published under the title "Generative Artificial Intelligence and Research Integrity: A Responsibility-Centred Framework" , the work draws on a comprehensive interdisciplinary review of Scopus-indexed literature to examine the ethical and governance implications of integrating GenAI into academic research, writing, and publishing processes.The article distinguishes between responsible uses, integrity-compromising practices, and emerging grey areas, and proposes a human-centred, context-sensitive framework to guide authors, reviewers, and editors.
CinTurs researcher Lara
Ferreira leads a study examining life satisfaction and well-being among
Portuguese youth, based on a sample of 1,800 individuals.
The findings reveal
significant mental health challenges and a notable digital paradox:
despite high levels of online connectivity, face-to-face relationships
remain scarce. The study demonstrates that anxiety
and social media use negatively impact life satisfaction, while
self-esteem, physical activity, and in-person social interaction emerge
as positive predictors.
These results underscore
the importance of public policies that target youth mental health and
promote meaningful social connections. The full article can be accessed here
.
CinTurs is proud to be part of EURINTECH, a cross-border initiative co-funded by the European Union under the Interreg Spain-Portugal Programme, which officially kicked off on 13 April in Seville, bringing together partners from Andalusia, the Algarve, and Alentejo. Alongside CRIA, CinTurs represents the University of the Algarve in a consortium committed to strengthening industrial competitiveness through open innovation, digitalisation, and high-tech entrepreneurship. Key actions include the development of an industrial innovation marketplace, the creation of demonstration spaces for real-world testing, tailored support for technological start-ups, AI-based training tools, and business networking and funding advisory services. Through these initiatives, EURINTECH aims to unlock new opportunities for companies and entrepreneurs, fostering a more connected and competitive cross-border industrial ecosystem.
CinTurs, in collaboration with the Faculty
of Economics of the University of Algarve, organised the seminar "More
than a Meal: Relational Immersion and Operational Challenges in Small
Experiential Hospitality Businesses", held
on 22 April 2026, at 10h00, Room 3A, Gambelas Campus.
This session was presented by Carla
Ramires, a CinTurs research student and hospitality entrepreneur, whose
work examines how human connection and shared moments in small-scale
businesses foster belonging and intercultural engagement,
while reflecting on the economic and operational tensions of sustaining
experiential hospitality models.
The CinTurs PhD Network hosted two PhD Net Talks webinars in April, delivered in partnership with the UAlg Library and focused on essential academic skills for doctoral researchers. On 8 April, the session "How to Check for Predatory Journals and Publishers" provided guidance on navigating scholarly publishing, exploring open access models and practical tools for assessing the
credibility of scientific publications. On 13 Apri, Christina Muhs, PhD Network Coordinator, delivered "Organise, Cite, Succeed: Using Reference Management Tools Effectively", introducing the fundamentals of reference management and key functionalities of platforms such as
Zotero, Mendeley, and EndNote, including reference collection, PDF management, citation insertion, and bibliography generation.