Pedro Ferreira

Pedro Ferreira is an Associate Professor at the Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences (FPCE) of the University of Porto, Portugal, and a member of the Center for Educational Research and Intervention (CIIE). His academic work spans teaching and research in psychology and education, with a strong focus on civic and political participation across the lifespan.

• Institution: University of Porto
• School: Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences
• Research Center: CIIE (Center for Educational Research and Intervention)

Education:

• PhD in Psychology, University of Porto, 2007
• Licentiate in Psychology, University of Porto, 1999

Research Interests:
Pedro Ferreira's research centers on civic and political participation, particularly among youth and adults, and the role of digital technologies in shaping citizenship. His work explores political education, democratic development, and the impact of online environments on political engagement. He investigates themes such as populism, political influencers, digital literacies, and the use of game-based learning in educational contexts. His research also extends to cybersecurity education, early school leaving, and the integration of migrant students.

Research Trends and Publications:
His recent publications reflect a strong interdisciplinary focus on political psychology, digital media, and education. He frequently collaborates with researchers like Ricardo Soares and Carla Malafaia. The articles show a clear trend toward analyzing youth political behavior in digital spaces, the psychological underpinnings of populism, and the role of education in democratic resilience. His work combines qualitative and quantitative methods, often involving large-scale studies and policy-relevant outputs.

Scientific Awards:
No specific awards or fellowships were mentioned in the provided text.

Advising and Grants:
Pedro Ferreira has served as Principal Investigator (PI) or Co-PI on numerous funded research projects. Notable projects include:

• SCIREARLY (Horizon Europe, 2022–2025): Co-PI, focused on reducing early school leaving in Europe.
• DISK - Digital Immigrants Survival Kit (Erasmus+, 2019–2022): PI, supporting digital inclusion of older adults.
• CATCH-EyoU (H2020, 2015–2018): Researcher, studying youth active citizenship in Europe.
• PIDOP (FP7, 2009–2012): Researcher, examining democratic ownership and participation.
• Multiple studies on cybersecurity education in Portugal, funded by the National Cybersecurity Center and Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation.
• Studies on youth political participation, including a major study funded by the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation.

Labs and Teams:
Pedro Ferreira is a core member of the Center for Educational Research and Intervention (CIIE) at the University of Porto. He collaborates with national and international research teams and is involved in networks such as the Ibero-Latin American Association of Political Psychology (AILPP), where he serves as Deputy Secretary General. He also contributes to the Ethics Committee of the University of Porto and is a member of the Portuguese Society of Educational Sciences (SPCE).