In partnership with universities from Spain, Italy, and Poland, the event debated technology's impact on people management and the irreplaceable value of human qualities.
A Blended Intensive Programme (BIP) was held from April 27 to May 1 at ISMAT in Portimão, titled “TOURISM and HUMAN RESOURCES: The Future of Human Resources in the Tourism and Hospitality Sector - The Challenge of AI and Robotics,” organized by the bachelor’s programs in Tourism Management, Psychology, and Human Resources Management.
The event welcomed students and faculty from the University of Huelva (Spain), the University of Cagliari (Italy), and the Social Academy of Sciences (SAN University) (Poland) as partners.
The main objective of the BIP was to explore how digital transformation, Artificial Intelligence (AI), and robotics are reshaping work, careers, and people management in the tourism and hospitality sectors. During the week, in dedicated workshops led by faculty from the four participating universities, topics were discussed such as the future of work in tourism and hospitality: trends, skill requirements, demographic and social changes, labor shortages, and new organizational models; AI, robotics, and digital tools in human resources management: recruitment and selection, HR data analysis, HR chatbots, algorithmic decision-making, and training and development supported by digital platforms; mental health and well-being at work: the impacts of digitalization on stress, burnout, loneliness, work-life balance, and psychosocial risks; strategies for prevention and the promotion of well-being; and ethics, inclusion, and social responsibility in highly technology-intensive workplaces: bias in algorithms, equity, transparency, and the role of HR in protecting people.
The week concluded with a workshop organized by ISMAT at Zoomarine Algarve, focusing on the importance of human qualities—particularly in our relationship with the animal world-which cannot be replaced by robots or Artificial Intelligence. The event featured a demonstration of the daily work of the dolphin trainers, the main attraction at the Algarve theme park.
