Alain (UPV/EHU) to Apptek, October-December 2025
During my secondment in the Basque Country, I worked closely with the Caser Betharram team in Hondarribia and the research team at the University of the Basque Country in Bilbao. Together, we conducted several focus groups with both staff and residents of Caser residential homes in Bilbao and Irun. The goal of this exploratory work was to better understand the needs and expectations of staff and clients regarding conversational assistants in their daily work and lives.
Both the team in Hondarribia and in Bilbao were incredibly welcoming and supportive from day one. Although my secondment in the Basque Country lasted only three weeks, I have already learned a lot about the requirements of both staff and residents concerning digital assistants. Thanks to the openness of all participants, the focus group discussions were highly rewarding and offered a glimpse into their hopes for the future of conversational agents. I will take these insights back to Austria for further reflection and discussion. My time in the Basque Country has been a short but amazing opportunity for academic, cultural and personal growth, and I am excited to continue this work.
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