Introduction The evolution of a country's higher education is often closely related to its political history. Countries as Spain, Greece and Portugal are a remarkable example of this. The democratisation of higher education in those countries is barely a quarter of a century old. Portugal reembraced democracy in 1974. The carnation revolution put an end to a long period of dictatorship, dominated by the figure of Salazar. The new Portugese constitution of 1976 formed the basis of reorganisations in higher education. However, the school of democracy was for many years characterised by political instability and a rapid succession of new governments. The educational reorganisation knew therefore a slow start. EU membership on 1 January 1986 signalled the end of a confusing period for the country. It was also an economic start. Portugal obtained (and still does) a lot of EU aid for the development of its infrastructure and for restructuring and modernising its industry. The EU also offers significant financial support for the training of employees. Thanks to all that Portugal is catching up with the other European countries. This is also the case for higher education and, more specifically, the education of engineers and higher technicians. Today the education of Portugese engineers is of a high level. It can no longer be compared to that of a decade ago. Yet, according to EU statistics, in 1995 only 36% of the twenty year olds had a diploma of secundary education in Portugal. In Italy this was 56%, in Belgium 73%, in Denmark 80% and in Sweden 83%.

1. 1. Introduction
The evolution of a country's higher education is often closely related to its political
history. Countries as Spain, Greece and Portugal are a remarkable example of this. The
democratisation of higher education in those countries is barely a quarter of a century
old.
Portugal reembraced democracy in 1974. The carnation revolution put an end to a long
period of dictatorship, dominated by the figure of Salazar. The new Portugese
constitution of 1976 formed the basis of reorganisations in higher education.
However, the school of democracy was for many years characterised by political
instability and a rapid succession of new governments. The educational reorganisation
knew therefore a slow start.
EU membership on 1 January 1986 signalled the end of a confusing period for the
country. It was also an economic start. Portugal obtained (and still does) a lot of EU aid
for the development of its infrastructure and for restructuring and modernising its
industry. The EU also offers significant financial support for the training of employees.
Thanks to all that Portugal is catching up with the other European countries. This is
also the case for higher education and, more specifically, the education of engineers and
higher technicians. Today the education of Portugese engineers is of a high level. It can
no longer be compared to that of a decade ago. Yet, according to EU statistics, in 1995
only 36% of the twenty year olds had a diploma of secundary education in Portugal. In
Italy this was 56%, in Belgium 73%, in Denmark 80% and in Sweden 83%.
2. Portugal in a nutshell
2.1. The Portugese republic is a unitary state with two autonomous regions: the Azores and
Madeira.
* The mainland has a population of about 10 million. The biggest universities,
with engineering studies, are situated in Lisbon (Lisboa in Portugese), Porto and
Coimbra.
* The Azores archipelago (Açores) counts 9 islands and has 250,000 inhabitants.
The biggest urban area, Ponta Delgada, is on the largest and most populated
island, Sâo Miguel. The industrial sector consists mainly of small and medium-
sized enterprises, almost 86% of which employ less than 5 people. The economy
is based on agriculture and the agrofood industries. The University of the Azores
is in Ponta Delgada. There were 172 student engineers “Engenheiro” for the
academic year 1993-1994.
PORTUGAL
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2. * The Madeira archipelago comprises the inhabited islands of Madeira and Porto
Santo, as well as the uninhabited islands of Desertes and Selvagens. Madeira has
about 300,000 inhabitants, half of which is under 25. Circa 35% of the employees
is not or hardly schooled. The middle and higher executives represent ± 4% of the
active population. Since 1993 Madeira has a university. It provides mainly non-
technical disciplines. For the academic year 1993-1994 72 students were enrolled
at the faculty of engineering (“engenheiro”).
* Engineers are educated at mainland universities. At the 11 public and 6 private
mainland universities about 32,700 engineering students were enrolled for the
academic year 1993-1994. This is more or less the same number as in all Belgian
universities and technical universities together for the same period. Portugese
engineers have a 5 year training (see further). When taking into account the ±
13,000 Portugese students following a 3 year course resulting in the degree of
“Bacharelato” (of “Engenheiro Técnico”), this exceeds the Belgian potential.
2. Education and economic development
Engineers play an important role in a country’s economic development. Portugal is the
poorest country of the European Union. But since a couple of years it is on the road to
economic growth. The country continues the privatisations and works with much
willpower towards European integration. The demand for engineers and higher
technician is huge. Notwithstanding the many campaigns the interest in engineering
studies is low. Wages are low. The average income per head is not even one sixth of
that in our country. In Portugal about 3 million people live under the by the EU
established poverty level.
Until recently, the production methods of industry were outdated. Agriculture was
hardly mechanised and productivity in this sector was low. However, mainly agrarian
Portugal slowly receives the aspect of a modern industrialised state. The traditional
family enterprise makes room for modern production enterprises managed by young
engineers and technocrats. But the “generation gap” amongst engineers is wide. This
may be linked to Portugese nature. The older generation has a form of indolence.
Maybe this is a consequence of years of government tutelage. The generation of young
engineers, often trained abroad, more and more makes up the new staff of professors at
universities and technical universities. This much is clear: engineering studies at
Portugese universities are undergoing a thorough change. The approach by young
managers however is often diametrically opposed to that of influential conservative
interest groups.
The economic inferiority that Portugal is trying to shred should not be underestimated.
Economic development is furthermore inherent to the development of higher education.
Under the reign of “the father of the fatherland" António Salazar (1932-1970) only a
tiny part of government expenditures went to education. Technical higher education in
particular was treated badly. The Portugese could have expected something better from
Salazar, who until 1928 was an economics professor at the university of Coimbra.
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3. The succession of the then terminally ill dictator Salazar by Marcelo Caetano (1968)
brought little change to the economic and education policies. Meanwhile, there was a
rapid succession of various governments and the European Union gave Portugal until
the end of 1995 to cease government influence on economy. Many state companies
were privatised. According to the Belgian Office of Foreign Trade, in 1996 20% of the
active population was employed in the agrarian sector, 25% in industry and 55% in the
service sector.
With EU subsidies new roads were constructed, irrigation projects realised, industry
modernised and educational projects (also for engineers) set up.
The industrial activity is mainly focused around Lisbon, Porto, Sines and in the
province of Minho.
The electric and electronic industry counts a great number of small and medium-sized
enterprises. The large enterprises are usually “daughters” of foreign enterprises. The
sector produces mainly electric machines, electric engines, radio and TV sets,
telecommunication material, electronic components, public lighting appliances, electric
cables and batteries.
Ship building is focused on the wharf of Viana do Castelo where a.o. ro-ro ships and
transport ships for chemicals are built.
The implantation of Renault (end of the 70ies) brought in its wake the creation of
enterprises specialised in manufacturing spare parts. The experience has played a role
in the decision of the Ford-Volkswagen joint venture.
The light chemical industry (pharmaceutics, cosmetics, detergents, paints, varnish) is a
rather modest sector. Nowadays there is an important technological evolution in this
sector.
The paper industry has enterprises of different sizes and with great differences on
technological level. Portugal produces 50% of all cork in the world.
The past couple of years the ceramics industry has invested in state of the art
technology. Portugese china is famous.
The building sector is in full expansion (social homes, roads, new industrial sites and
schools).
As of old the textile industry is the most important branch of industry.
Officially there is 7% of unemployment in Portugal (1996). But there is grinding
poverty in some parts of the country.
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4. Against this economic background there is the big challenge of higher education. The
low wages caused a massive increase in foreign investments from highly industrialised
countries, such as the U.S., the U.K. and other EU countries. Foreign investors created
an increasing demand for engineers and higher technicians.
3. Higher education
Portugal can look back at a centuries-old tradition with regard to its university
education. The university of Coimbra was founded in 1290. In 1911 the universities of
Lisbon and Porto were founded.
Interest in higher education was very small up to the beginning of the eighties. More
than anywhere in Europe students came principally from the circles of the financially
“well-off”. At the three above-mentioned universities only 40,000 students had enrolled
in 1974 (the year of the carnation revolution).
At the only technical university in Portugal ca 11,000 students were enrolled in 1974.
In the middle of the eighties interest in university education was rising. More and more
students from other layers of society found their way to higher education. But in 1977
the numerus clausus was introduced. The number of students, especially in the
disciplines of law and social sciences, was growing too large according to the
government. The numerus clausus also applies to engineering studies.
4. Degrees
There are the following degrees in Portugese higher education:
- “Bacharelato” (3 years)
- “Licenciatura” (4, 5 or 6 years)
- “Mestrado” (1 year following 5 years of “Licenciatura”)
- “Doutoramento” (min. 2 years following “Mestrado”,
min. 3 years following “Licenciatura”)
5. Engineering studies
Engineering studies can be taken at:
1. Universities (”Instituto Superior Técnico”)
2. Non-universities (“Instituto Politécnico”)
Only an academic title awarded by a university can result in an officially recognised
professional title. Universities and non-universities can be part of the so-called public
institutions (95%) or private institutions (5%).
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5. 5.1. Universities
° Engineering studies at an “Instituto Superior Técnico” (associated with a
university) take 5 years.
° After 5 years the degree of “Licenciado” (academic title) is awarded.
° This degree gives a right to the professional title of “Engenheiro”.
° The professional title is awarded by the ”Ordem dos Engenheiros” (the National
Order of Engineers in Portugal).
° For all studies, the first and second years are polyvalent and focus on basic
sciences such as mathematics, physics, chemistry and informatics. The third year
focuses on the chosen specialisation of the fourth and fifth year. A final project
and some weeks of traineeship in a company are part of the studies.
° The degree of “Licenciado” allows one to proceed to one's doctor's degree (min. 3
years).
° The studies resulting in the degree (and academic title) of “Licenciado” can be
taken at 19 universities (13 public and 6 private ones).
° At all Portugese universities 99,700 students were registered for the academic year
1993-19941
. The number of engineering students amounted to approx. 32%.
5.2. Non-universities (“Instituto Politécnico)
° Education at an “Instituto Politécnico” takes 3 years.
° The studies result in the degree (also academic title) of “Bacharelato” (BSc).
° With the degree of “Bacharelato” one can carry the professional title of
“Engenheiro Técnico”.
° The “Engenheiro Técnico” is not recognised as an engineer by the “Ordem dos
Engenheiros”.
° The 3 year education is mainly practically oriented and is equivalent to that of a
higher technician.
° The degree of “Bacharelato” does not allow to take one's doctor's degree
(”doutoramento”).
1
Source: Ministry of Education, Lisbon.
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6. ° Graduates having a “Bacharelato” can at certain institutions obtain the so-called
“D.E.S.E. diploma” after a supplementary course of 2 years (“Diploma de Estudos
Superiores Especializados”) at certain institutions. This diploma is equivalent to
the “Licenciatura” degree.
° The studies for “Engenheiro Técnico” (BSc) can be taken at 18 institutions (14
public and 4 private ones).
° For the academic year 1993-1994 there were approx. 38,000 students at all
polytechnics. The percentage of students pursuing higher technical education
amounted to ± 34%.
5.3. Survey (1993)2
Institution Number
of Institu-
tions
Number of
students
Number
of
years
Academic title Professional
title
University
public
private
13
6
31.000
7.000
---------
38.000
5
5
Licenciado Engenheiro
Polytechnics
public
private
14
4
12.500
570
---------
13.070
3
3
Bacharelato
(BSc)
Engenheiro
Técnico
6. Masters (“Mestrado”)
The Master’s education encompasses the in-depth study of a specific topic (theoretical
training + thesis). Admission to “Mestrado” is granted on the basis of a “Licenciado”
degree (5 years) obtained with distinction. The studies last 1 year. Only public
universities offer accredited masters.
2
Ministry of Education, Lisbon.
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7. 7. Doctor's degree (“Doutoramento”)
The “Licenciado” degree allows one to take one’s doctor's degree (min. 3 years). For
the field of engineering sciences the number of PhDs awarded is rather small. Only 491
PhD degrees (engineering) were awarded between 1910 and 19923
.
8. Higher institutions (5 years)
Hereafter is a survey of the educational institutions providing “Engenheiro” studies4
.
Public Universities
Institution Number of Students
Academic year 1993-1994
1. Universidade dos Açores
2. Universidade do Algarve
3. Universidade de Aveiro
4. Universidade da Beria Interior
5. Universidade da Coimbra
Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologica
6. Universidade de Evora
7. Universidade de Lisboa
Faculdade de Ciências
8. Universidade Técnica de Lisboa
9. Universidade Nova de Lisboa
10. Universidade do Minho
11. Universidade do Porto
12. Universidade de Trásos-Montes e Alto Douro
13. Universidade da Madeira
172
399
2,224
1,410
3,649
1,706
186
9,116
2,447
3,294
3,978
2,340
72
Private Universities
At Lusiada, Lisboa (2), Porto, Setúbal, Torres Vedras. Total number of students: 1,700.
3
Source: Instituto da Prospectiva, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade Técnica de
Lisboa.
4
Source: Ministry of Education, Lisbon.
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8. 9. Higher institutions (3 years)
Public institutions
Institution Number of Students
Academic year 1993-1994
1. Instituto Politécnico de Bragança
2. Instituto Politécnico de Castelo Branco
3. Instituto Politécnico de Coimbra
4. Universidade do Algarve
Escola Superior de Tecnologica
5. Instituto Politécnico da Guarda
6. Instituto Politécnico de Leiria
7. Instituto Politécnico de Lisboa
8. Instituto Politécnico de Portalegre
9. Instituto Politécnico de Porto
10. Instituto Politécnico de Santarém
11. Escola Superior de Tecnologica de Tomar
12. Instituto Politécnico de Setúbal
13. Instituto Politécnico de Viana do Castelo
14. Instituto Politécnico de Viscu
117
40
1,561
913
619
528
4,196
71
2,641
191
191
741
158
500
Private institutions
In Lisboa, Porto, Setúbal, Torres Vedras. Total number of students: 570.
10. The large centres for engineering studies
10.1 Lisboa, Porto and Coimbra are the main centres for engineering studies. According to
data from the Portugese Ministry of Education about 19,400 “Licenciado” students
(resulting in the professional title of “Engenheiro”) were registered in those 3 cities in
1993-1994. That represents ± 59% of all engineering students (5 years) in Portugal.
About 11,750 studied in Lisboa, 4,000 in Porto and 3,650 in Coimbra5
.
10.2 Those 3 cities also have the largest schools providing a three year course for the degree
of “Bacharelato” (BSc) and the professional title of “Engenheiro Técnico” (an
engineering title not recognised by the Portugese Order of Engineers).
5
Source: Ministry of Education, Lisboa.
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9. In 1993 the institutions of those three cities together counted about 8,400 students, or
± 64% of the total number in Portugal. About 4,200 studied for a “BSc” in Lisbon in
1993, 2,640 in Porto and 1,560 in Coimbra6
.
10.3 Lisboa (capital city with 850,000 inhabitants and 1.9 million including the
agglomeration) has three (public) universities providing engineering studies or a
“scientific” education resulting in the degree of engineer.
A. Universidade de Lisboa
Only the “Faculdada de Ciências” has an education leading to the degree of
“Engenheiria Geográfica”. In 1993 there were about 180 students (5 years).
B. Universidade Técnica de Lisboa
Also called “Escola Politécnica”. This is a Technical University or Polytechnic
College, not to be confused with “Polytechnics”, providing a 3 year education of
“Bacharelato”. The “Universidade Técnica de Lisboa” has two training
institutions for engineers. There is on the one hand the “Instituto Superior de
Agronomia”, and on the other hand the “Instituto Superior Técnico”.
The “Universidade Técnica” is situated in a green area west of the city, close to
the station “Entrecampos”. It borders the famous botanical gardens and a
compleet mini-forest. This unique natural area is an open air laboratory for the ±
1,300 students of the “Instituto Superior de Agronomia” (5 years). This institute
has 3 different courses leading to “Engenharia Agro-Industrial”, “Engenharia
Agronómica” and “Engenharia Florestal”.
The “Instituto Superior Técnico” trains engineers in 13 different disciplines. It
counted ± 7,800 students (5 years) in 1993.
C. Universidade Nova de Lisboa
At the “Faculdade de Ciências de Tecnologica” students can specialise in 10
different engineering disciplines. Some are the same as for the “Universidade
Técnica de Lisboa”. The “Nova” faculty had about 2,500 students in 1993.
10.4 Coimbra
Coimbra (population ± 80,000) is the fourth largest city in Portugal and since the 14th
century the university city in Portugal. Coimbra was and is the centre of culture and
science. The first university of Portugal was created in Lisboa in 1920 and transfered to
Coimbra in 1307. Until 1907 Coimbra was the only city with a university.
6
Source: Ministry of Education, Lisboa.
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10. At the “Faculdade de Ciências e Técnologica” (created in 1772) of the “Universidade
de Coimbra” there were about 3,600 students in 10 different engineering disciplines.
All faculties (medicin, law, literature, etc.) together have about 13,000 students. The
“Velha Universidade” or old university is located in the former royal palace.
10.5 Porto
Porto or Oporto (= at the port) has a population of about 450,000 (agglomeration ±
850,000) and is the country’s second largest city. In Porto, engineers are trained at the
“Faculdade de Engeharia” of the “Universidade do Porto”. In 1993 there were ± 4,000
students registered in 10 different disciplines at both faculties.
11. Industrieel ingenieur versus “Engenheiro”
The education of the Portugese engineer lasts 5 years. The courses are held at a
university or an institute associated with a university. In order to exercise the
engineering profession one has to be professionally recognised, i.e. have a professional
title awarded by the National Order of Engineers. The order does not recognise the
“Engenheiro Técnico” (3 years).
Depending on the discipline one can state that the education of industrieel ingenieur,
supplemented by an accredited MSc degree is of the same level as the Portugese
“Engenheiro”.
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