Abstract

BRAS, José Viegas; JEZINE, Edineide; FONSECA, Sofia  and  GONCALVES, Maria Neves. The Portuguese University: the open access-closed - the case for over 23 years. Rev. Lusófona de Educação [online]. 2012, n.21, pp.163-178. ISSN 1645-7250.

The aim of this study is describe the process of democratization of higher education in Portugal. An historical framework of the foundations and development of the Portuguese university is presented, giving particular emphasis on the changes concerning the duality power/knowledge and the historical elitism associated to higher education. This approach is complemented with an empirical analysis to of the actual situation in the Lusofona University regarding the enrollment of mature students (over 23 years old). Printed and handwritten references were considered for analysis, which allowed a detailed historical reconstruction of the Portuguese university. This secular corporate body, which in its origin has privileged the education of elites, is now experiencing a globalization and expansion of the targeted audiences, and has formally opened access to higher education to mature students (over 23 years old) in 2006. A sample of 36 mature students (32.09 ± 7.58 years old) registered on the course of Physical Education and Sports (69.4%) and Educational Sciences (30.6%) at the Lusofona University in 2010/2011 were considered. A questionnaire was applied to understand the motivations of these students for attending a university course, making part of a non-elitist, eclectic and democr atized group.

Keywords : university; access; elitism; democratization.

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