REFORMING DISTANCE LEARNING IN PORTUGAL: Some comments from University of Minho perspective

Abstract

In the new legal framework of higher educationinstitutions of 2007, the Portuguese Government made acommitment to develop new legislation for distance learninghigher education. A Panel of external experts wasconstituted to advise the Government on the nature ofreforms needed for the distance learning sector for it to playits rightful role in Portuguese higher education system. Theobjective of the Government was to assess the need forexpanding the distance learning sector and the potentialrequirements for new legislation in pursuit of this objective.The Panel’s report is intended to serve as a basis forconsultation with the stakeholders before the Governmentcomes to a decision on the nature and shape of the neededreforms. University of Minho was one of the 12 institutionslistened. In this paper we’ll discuss the majorrecommendations made by the panel and the divergencesfrom our own point of view.Index Terms ⎯ Distance learning, Portuguese highereducation system.