The visit provided direct contact with biomaterials, 3D printing, and new competencies for people management and organizational sustainability.
As part of the Current Challenges in Human Resource Management course unit, Prof. Patrícia Araújo accompanied final-year students from the Bachelor's degree in Human Resource Management on a visit to the Biodesign Laboratory, providing direct contact with new forms of research, innovation, and value creation in organizations.
The students were received by Prof. Susana Leonor, who presented research projects developed in the laboratory, particularly in the fields of biomaterials, digital manufacturing technologies, and 3D printing.
The session introduced innovative materials developed from resources such as fungi, food waste, algae, and other biological materials, showing how research can pave the way for new solutions and more sustainable business models.
Beyond the technological dimension, the visit sparked reflection on the future of organizations and work. New business areas, emerging professions, and novel competencies were discussed, alongside the challenges that sustainability and innovation pose to how organizations produce, manage people, and create value.
The final-year students actively participated in the session, asking questions and discussing the impact of these transformations on the future of people management. The experience led them to reflect on their own roles as future managers (and citizens!), within an organizational context marked by technological innovation, the emergence of new professions, and the need to rethink more sustainable development models.
The visit thus represented an opportunity to connect HRM education with research and innovation, showing students that understanding the future of organizations also implies understanding the technologies, materials, business models, and new areas and ways of working that are emerging.
