The Regional Secretary for Science, Technology and Infrastructures stressed today that it is important that the University of the Azores conveys language of rational and practical knowledge to the public through scientific studies and conferences.

José Contente emphasised that these concepts should also be present in the language of politicians, thus enriching speeches and decisions. "With regard to policy-making, qualitative approaches are useful since the transferability of results is more enlightening than generalisations. The validity and reliability of decisions are thus best measured by their credibility," stressed the government official.

The Regional Secretary spoke at the opening session of the International Conference "Qualitative Methods in Social Sciences and Humanities: Perspectives and Experiences", which takes place at the University of the Azores today and tomorrow. The government official also stressed that in the world ruled by "a rationalist paradigm and nomothetic perspectives, we need a more humanistic, which is the basis of ideographic knowledge. Our social reality is best understood with qualitative approaches that deepen political decisions by the proximity of decisions to their context."

According to the Regional Secretary, the organisation of conferences and similar events allow a better understanding and further development of concepts and methods that are useful in social and political analysis. Hence, this holistic and systemic approach is an asset to politics as well as other situations that may be simplified through knowledge."

The government official also assured that the Government of the Azores will continue to invest in the University of the Azores as a development and social change hub, making clear that scientific research projects will continue to be supported by the Regional Secretary.

"We have strengthened, for example, the support to scholarships this year as we believe that we can go further with the knowledge economy than with traditional activities. Even these activities need the knowledge economy to bring added value to our society," added the government official.

Being aware of the difficulties that several areas are facing in the Azores, "which are largely due to the lack of responsibility of the National Government, the Regional Government will continue to support institutions such as the University of the Azores" so that it may continue to improve its proactive role in society as well as to ensure scientific solutions for the Region's problems.