Fernando Alexandre, the Minister for Education, Science, and Innovation, acknowledged the contribution of Universidade Portucalense to democratising access to higher education and to the country’s development, at the formal ceremony marking the institution’s 40th anniversary.
When congratulating Universidade Portucalense on its 40th anniversary, Fernando Alexandre affirmed that the institution “contributed greatly to higher education fulfilling its mission of ensuring that all deserving students could gain access to higher education,” considering it one of the agents that helped transform the country through education.
In his speech, Fernando Alexandre argued that universities and polytechnics, both public and private, played a decisive role in democratising access to knowledge and in fostering a culture of science and innovation in the country. He also maintained that it is the State’s responsibility to establish a legal framework that enables institutions to respond to scientific, social, and economic challenges with greater autonomy and adaptability.
Among the key measures currently underway, he highlighted the review of the Legal Framework for Higher Education Institutions (Regime Jurídico das Instituições de Ensino Superior – RJIES), aimed at strengthening the strategic and managerial autonomy of institutions, as well as the reform of social support schemes, designed to ensure that no student is excluded from higher education for financial reasons.
The Minister also advocated a model that strengthens students’ freedom of choice, allowing them to attend the institution to which they have been allocated, regardless of whether it is public or private. According to the minister, this approach will foster greater competition between institutions and encourage innovation and continuous improvement in quality.
Fernando Alexandre also announced that the Government will present, on 15 July, the new Legal Framework for Degrees and Diplomas and the future Law on Science and Innovation. Among the proposed changes, he highlighted the intention to allow any higher education institution, whether public or private, which has received an A3ES institutional evaluation without any conditions, to award degrees and diplomas on an equal footing. “The evaluation either applies to everyone or to no one,” he said.
Regarding research, he also revealed that the forthcoming Law on Science and Innovation will formally recognise higher education institutions as integral parts of the scientific, technological, and innovation system, thereby updating a legal framework that he considered out of step with current realities.
