NRP Portugal

MeasureDescriptionCurrentStatus: inprogress/CompletedLast year’s results Next Steps NotesFormalisation ofthe BolognaProcess and reformof higher educationImplementing theBologna Process andreform of highereducationIn progressAfter the presentation of the integral regulations at the beginning of 2006, which envisaged theadaptation of higher education in Portugal to the Bologna process, covering initial training coursesthat offered places to students in the academic year 2007-2008, about 90% were organised inaccordance with the principles of the Bologna Process (public and private higher education).The opening up of higher education to new publics, through the new regime of access to over 23-year olds, meant an increase in the number of adults entering higher education to about 10,850 inthe academic year 2006-07, further increasing to 11,775 in the academic year 2007-08, comparedwith about a mere 900 adults who began their higher education studies in the academic year 2005-06.In the context of attracting new publics to higher education institutes, too, there has been aparticularly relevant increase in the number of Technological Specialisation Courses (CETs)operating in higher education institutions, as well as the total number of new students on thesecourses, which has reached a total of more than 4,800 new students admitted in 2007 (whereas itwas little more than 1,000 in 2005), for a total of about 150 courses delivered in higher educationinstitutes.The implementation of the higher education student loans system with mutual guarantee shouldalso be noted, secured by the State, formalised in September 2007, which complements theeducation welfare scheme for students in higher education, and the broadening in scope of theawarding of non-returnable study grants to students enrolled on technological specialisationcourses and masters degrees, promoting new conditions for access to, and attendance at, highereducation on the part of all students.The loans system launched by the Government at the end of 2007 covered more than 3,100students at the end of the first academic year (2007-2008), and has surpassed all initialexpectations. At the same time, it has been recognised internationally, namely by assessors whoanalysed the Portuguese education system for OCDE in 2006/07, as innovative and suitable for theneed to strengthen higher education in Portugal and in Europe.During 2007-2008 the reform of higher education was continued, based on the implementation ofa set of central reform measures resulting from the recommendations of OCDE and ENQA,following evaluation studies carried out by these international institutes in 2006, specifically:• The new Legal Regime for Institutions of Higher Education (RJIES).Measures will continue until 201055