Please find the presentations of the event here.

Please find the Rationale of the event here.   

Background of the activity

A reversed peer-learning approach allows EURASHE to support its members’ discussions on the role and various aspects of the mission of PHE, on Bologna process and their reflection in national policies. It builds upon a national background paper indicating the key issues and concerns within the specific area selected by the hosting organisation (most likely the national association of institutes of professional higher education), their reflection from the view of international experts and workshop discussions among the local and international participants.

The expected outcome is a set of comments and conclusions which may serve for further national debate and policy work, yet also enhanced understanding of the relevant issues within the international community.

Expected scope of the event is about 80 participants bringing together representatives of professional higher education from the country and abroad, international experts and other relevant key actors from the hosting country (ministry, quality assurance agencies, higher education community including students, world of work…).

Focus of the activity

The event co-organised together with the Council of Portuguese Polytechnics (CCISP) with the support of the Portuguese Ministry of Higher Education and Science and Polytechnic Institute of Porto will focus at their request on various aspects of short-cycle higher education with emphasis on the following issues:

• Mission, role and objectives of SCHE, reflecting world of work and specific learners’ groups needs,
• Quality assurance in SCHE, approach, tools and impact on recognition within higher education
• Pedagogy with emphasis on practical aspects, work-based learning and cooperation with world of work.

Short-cycle higher education – and in a wider context qualifications at the level 5 of the European Qualifications Framework – is one of the most dynamically developing segments of higher/tertiary education in Europe. This type of education provides various opportunities – it serves as another, important channel for enhances access to higher education, quite often for learners from non-traditional background; it provides a bridge to higher qualifications, yet also offers special, targeted professional qualification for a narrow range of specific, relatively high-qualified jobs. It may serve as a strong building stone of life-long learning agenda addressing people how to seek for up- and re-skilling within their development of competences, profile and attractiveness at the labour market. Due to its specific professional profile, the very close engagement with the world of work is usually much stronger then it is used in higher education in general. Due to the variability of missions, but also due to much colorful range of providers, there are various expectations as regards profile, characteristics, key features of learning provisions within the short-cycle higher education – and even more when considering the complexity of various provisions at EQF level 5.  There has been little evidence of the development at European level, although various institutions (European Commission, Cedefop, European Training Foundation, Council of Europe, EURASHE, …) contributed with their views and studies.

The short-cycle has been systemically incorporated into the Bologna structures over the past year. The Dublin descriptors within the Qualifications Framework of European Higher Education Area (EHEA) include specific descriptors for the higher education short-cycle[1]. After calling for development of tools and mechanisms for recognition of short-cycle higher education in previous communiques, the responsible ministers of EHEA countries adopted at their meeting in Paris on May 2018 within their final Paris communique[2] the short cycle qualifications as a stand-alone qualification level within the overarching Qualifications Framework of the European Higher Education Area.

While the introduction of the respective qualification within higher education is not obligatory for the EHEA countries, there has been definitely a growing attention to its potential, profile, role and links to other qualification levels, as well as consideration how to integrate the short-cycle higher education provisions within general higher education structures and tools including quality assurance and recognition.

The lessons learnt from the Portuguese situation may contribute to such debate, yet the event is expected to provide international view to Portuguese hosts at the same time.

[1] http://www.ehea.info/media.ehea.info/file/WG_Frameworks_qualification/71/0/050218_QF_EHEA_580710.pdf, pg. 66

[2] http://www.ehea.info/Upload/document/ministerial_declarations/EHEAParis2018_Communique_final_952771.pdf

Following are the speakers of the event:

Paulo Almeida - Paulo Almeida is a Partner at Deloitte’s Consulting division in the Financial Services practice having +20 years of professional experience at Deloitte, currently leading the Delivery Center in Portugal. Throughout... Read more

Pedro Dominguinhos - Prof. Pedro Dominguinhos is the President of The Portuguese Polytechnics Coordinating Council (CCISP) and the President of the Polytechnic Institute of Setúbal (IPS).   

Jim Murray - Dr. Jim Murray is a historian by training, and has worked previously as an archivist in the UK’s National Archives (1990-95); in university administration in Dublin City University (1995-2003); and... Read more

João Queiroz - João Queiroz is Director-General for Higher Education in Portugal since 2014 and is a full Professor of Biochemistry/Biotechnology at the University of Beira Interior. He was President of Faculty of Health Sciences... Read more

Jean-Philippe Restoueix - Jean Philippe RESTOUEIX is 56 years old. Since 1994, he is administrator within the Council of Europe firstly in the Youth department and since 2007 within the Education department. Within... Read more

Alicia-Leonor Sauli-Miklavčič, Board member of EURASHE - Alicia-Leonor Sauli-Miklavčič is a good connoisseur of international professional higher education, she has been Project Expert at the Slovene Association HVC as well as a member of the EURASHE working... Read more

The event is free of charge.

Venue of the event

Polytechnic Institute of Porto – Presidency Services
Rua Dr. Roberto Frias, 712
4200-465 Porto, Portugal

How to get there

Metro and bus stop: Hospital S. João 

From the airport:

• By Metro: Purple Line (E), switch to Yellow Line (D) Direction: Hospital S.João 

• By Bus (STCP): 601, 602 and 604 Direction: Hospital S.João (more information: https://www.stcp.pt/en/travel/timetables/?paragem=AEPT1&t=smsbus)

Accommodation

Following is our hotel proposal for your stay in Porto:

Porto is recognized worldwide for multiple reasons. It is not just for the known wine with the same name, for its soccer team and for the food, but because it is a city of science, research and culture. It is a vibrant and young city where academic life is lived intensely. The large concentration of higher education students in Porto makes this an Erasmus city that is multicultural, cosmopolitan and low cost (or high budget). The internationalization and plurality of cultures that we see and live in the streets are an asset for all who live, study or work here. 

Alongside the city, flows the Douro river, which has given its name to the oldest demarcated wine region in the world. Alto Douro Wine Region, where the famous Port Wine is produced, was also classified as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. In addition to this heritage, you will find a current vitality and dynamism, a sparkle that allows both residents and visitors to safely enjoy a rich cultural and social life as in any European capital. Moreover, Porto offers a top academic life and the excellency of P.PORTO Programmes. There is plenty to do and you won’t lack company. You have to be here to live it first-hand. Porto is so special that, at the beginning of the 19th century, a Portuguese King left his heart in legacy to the city. Metaphorically, however, everybody leaves their hearts in the city which gave its name to the country.