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  • Academic trajectories and labour market transitions of mature graduates: a case study from the University of Algarve
    Publication . Gonçalves, Teresa; Quintas, Helena; Almeida, António Fragoso de
    The Bologna Process, recently implemented in Portugal, has brought many changes to higher education institutions (HEI). One of these changes refers to a law that enables mature students (23 years and older) to gain special access to higher education, taking into account their professional experience. The numbers of mature students are therefore increasing in our country, making our academic population more diverse. Our team has in the past investigated these students’ situation in higher education (HE), in order to provide university management our recommendations to improve students’ success. To continue our research we (two HEI in Portugal) designed a new research project , which partially aims to understand mature students’ trajectories through HE and their transitions to the labour market. Again we hope to provide recommendations for that university management to do more for our students’ employability. In this paper we identify and characterise various dimensions of individual and collective profile of mature students in the University of Algarve (Portugal) and their paths towards labour market integration. Our results show that positive experiences within university context, regarding their learning and competences acquisition. Also it becomes clear that while studying in university mature students developed personal qualities that proved to be determinant to their professions or to the ability of creating their own businesses.
  • I will never give up… Life stories of mature students in higher education
    Publication . Gonçalves, Teresa; Quintas, Helena; Ribeiro, Carlos Miguel; Monteiro, Rute; Bago, Joana; Fonseca, Henrique; Santos, Lucilia; Almeida, António Fragoso de; Krasovec, Sabina Jelenc; Radovan, Marko
    The Portuguese law 64/2006 allows mature students, older than 23, (M23) to access university, widening the participation of adult population in higher education. This paper is part of a research project focused on the experiences of non-traditional students in higher education. In this paper we analyse the stories of four mature students, with the aim to identify their motives for entering higher education; to understand their relationships with younger students; and to identify the main obstacles they face in their academic life.
  • Non-traditional students at the university: the M23 case in two HEI in Portugal
    Publication . Bago, Joana; Santos, Lucilia; Fonseca, Henrique; Almeida, António Fragoso de; Monteiro, Rute; Ribeiro, Carlos Miguel; Quintas, Helena; Gonçalves, Teresa
    The law-decree 64/2006 allows mature students older than 23 years (M23) to apply to Higher Education Institutions (HEI), widening the participation of adult population in Portugal. In the University of Aveiro (UA), a student enrolled through this specific regime has had to pass a three steps evaluation process, with the following weights in the final mark: (A) the analysis of the candidate curriculum vitae (20%); (B) a set of thematic exams with the purpose of evaluation of their academic skills (60%); (C) finally, an individual interview where an appointed jury questions the applicant about his or her motivations and life history (20%). After successfully passing this process, the candidates can apply for a course at the UA. Also an innovative “one-stop shop” was created in the Lifelong Unit of the UA (Uinfoc), where the M23 candidates deal with all the related administrative procedures.