Repositório da Universidade dos Açores

Institutional Repository of the University of the Azores

Welcome to the Repository of the University of the Azores

The mission of the Institutional Repository RUAc is to incorporate, register, organize, maintain, preserve and facilitate the open online access to the academic, scientific and cultural publications of the University of the Azores, promoting its contents by sharing the institutional research and by the integration in national and international information network systems, using technical interoperability and international standards.

The contents of the Institutional Repository RUAc is organized on Communities and its Collections. The Repository includes articles, papers in scientific events, books, book chapters, dissertations, technical reports, institutional documents, presentations, conferences, etc., in digital format and the correspondent metadata.

The Institutional Repository RUAc has as community of interest teachers, researchers, students who are co-authors with teachers and/or researchers, scholars who are co-authors with teachers and/or researchers, employees and collaborators of projects at the University of the Azores.

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Email repositorio@uac.pt

Website BAM https://bam.uac.pt

Recent Submissions

"Verdade" na Tradução, pelo Padre Sena Freitas, "A Alta Educação do Padre"

Publication . Silva, Eduardo

Este pequeno ensaio (1) contextualiza a produção e a tradução dos dois textos que constituem "A Alta Educação do Padre"; (2) define as razões e os parâmetros do tratamento do tema "verdade" que opera com relação à Introdução (do Tradutor) e aos textos (do Autor) a que o título (editorial) "A Alta Educação do Padre" tem referência; (3) trata o tema da "verdade" com relação a ausência de palavras (sonegação de informação) por parte do Tradutor; (4) trata o tema da "verdade" com relação à usurpação de carácter lógico com que se depara na utilização do conceito "verdade" por parte do autor dos dois referidos textos (John Lancaster Spalding).

2025-12-22Book

Open access

Um Natal com Matemática: das simetrias dos flocos de neve aos embrulhos económicos para presentes

Publication . Teixeira, Ricardo Cunha

Neste artigo, apresentam-se algumas curiosidades que mostram como podemos utilizar a Matemática na quadra natalícia, da análise das simetrias dos flocos de neve e de enfeites de Natal às técnicas que permitem poupar nos embrulhos para os presentes.

2025-12-16Journal article

Open access

Key factors influencing university students’ intention to use generative AI and its impact on satisfaction

Publication . Silva, Osvaldo; Sousa, Áurea

ABSTRACT: This study aims to explore the key determinants influencing university students’ behavioural intention to use Generative Artificial Intelligence (BI_GAI) tools in educational settings, as well as the impact of this intention on student satisfaction (SS). Grounded in the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM), the research incorporates the traditional constructs of Perceived Ease of Use (PE) and Perceived Usefulness (PU) and extends the model by integrating Perceived Intelligence (PI), Perceived Trust (PT), Perceived Risk (PR), Expected Benefits (EB), and Technology Self-Efficacy (TSE). Data were collected from 775 students at a Portuguese higher education institution through a questionnaire comprising 40 items across nine constructs (PE, PI, PU, PT, PR, BI_GAI, EB, TSE, and SS), alongside sociodemographic variables. The data were analysed using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM). The results reveal that PE and PI have a significant positive effect on Behavioural Intention to Use GAI (BI_GAI), whereas PU does not have a statistically significant direct influence. Perceived Trust (PT) emerges as a key mediating variable in the relationship between PU and BI_GAI, while Perceived Risk (PR) does not act as a significant mediator between the TAM constructs and BI_GAI. Behavioural Intention to Use GAI has the strongest direct influence on Student Satisfaction (SS), highlighting its central role in understanding students’ engagement with GAI tools. Moreover, both EB and TSE significantly affect SS, both directly and indirectly through BI_GAI. These findings support the development of an expanded TAM-based model that provides a more holistic perspective on the technological, psychological, and educational factors shaping GAI adoption in higher education. The inclusion of constructs such as PI, PT, and TSE offers deeper insights into the mechanisms through which students evaluate and adopt GAI for learning purposes, ultimately contributing to enhanced academic satisfaction.

2025-11Research article

Open access

Potential factors promoting university student motivation and satisfaction in a blended learning context

Publication . Silva, Osvaldo; Sousa, Áurea

ABSTRACT: Blended learning has gained prominence in higher education in response to the growing integration of technology in society, aiming to enhance student engagement by combining face-to-face instruction with online components. This pedagogical approach supports autonomy, encourages active participation, and promotes critical thinking by enabling students to apply theoretical concepts to practical situations through digital tools and interactive platforms. This study investigates the key factors influencing student motivation and satisfaction in blended learning environments. It draws on two theoretical frameworks: Self-Determination Theory (SDT), which highlights the psychological needs of autonomy, relatedness, and competence as essential for intrinsic motivation; and the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM), which focuses on Perceived Usefulness (PU) and Perceived Ease of use (PEOU) as predictors of technology acceptance. The research was conducted at a Portuguese university with a sample of 444 students, who completed a questionnaire comprising 38 items distributed across seven constructs (namely, Autonomy, Relatedness, Competence, PU, PEOU, Learning Motivation (LM), and Learning Satisfaction (LS)), along with sociodemographic data. The analysis employed Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM), evaluating both the measurement model and the structural model, using bootstrapping to assess the significance of the path coefficients. The results confirmed most of the formulated hypotheses. Perceived ease of use and perceived usefulness were the strongest predictors of learning motivation, which, in turn, significantly influenced learning satisfaction. Additionally, PU and PEOU mediated the relationship between the SDT factors and learning motivation. However, PEOU did not mediate the relationship between competence and PU. These findings offer valuable insights for university leaders, educators, and student organisations, highlighting the importance of aligning blended learning strategies with students’ psychological and technological needs to enhance their motivation and overall satisfaction.

2025-11Research article

Open access

Senior Woman Tourists’ Characteristics and Concerns

Publication . Silva, Osvaldo; Tomás, Licínio; Medeiros, Teresa; Moniz, Ana; Abreu, A.; Carvalho, j.; Liberato, D.; Castanho, R.

ABSTRACT: Women constitute a majority niche within the senior tourism segment, requiring more comprehensive understanding through research and by stakeholders in the tourism industry. It is essential to consider the characteristics of these tourists to determine their influence on travel planning concerns and the subsequent impact on satisfaction with the destination. In this study, based on a sample of 529 senior tourists who visited the Azores, three key components concerning the degree of importance attributed to travel-related concerns were identified, through Categorical Principal Component Analysis (CatPCA). Using a Partial Least Squares–Structural Equation Model (PLS-SEM), the study found that women’s education levels significantly influence their travel planning concerns. Specifically, the higher the education level, the less importance these tourists attributed to such concerns. It is important to note that the type of travel concerns among senior women can vary based on their characteristics. Understanding these differences allows professionals in this market segment.

2025Research article

Open access