External Review Committee

Public report of the MIT Portugal Program External Review Committee (ERC)

12 October 2007

Public report of the MIT Portugal Program External Review Committee (ERC)

March 2008

An OECD review panel was invited by the Portuguese Ministry of Science, Technology and Higher Education to visit Portugal to assess developments over the past year in higher education. The panel met senior officials of the Ministry, university rectors and presidents of public and private universities and polytechnics, students, teachers, lawmakers and banks involved in student loans.

According to the report, “The panel is greatly impressed by the breadth and far-reaching nature of the reforms, and the speed with which they have been launched. Action has been taken in almost all areas of the panel’s recommendations. While the full benefits of these reforms and initiatives will only be realized over many years, the panel noted that many positive effects are already visible. It is quite evident that Portugal’s Higher Education system is on the move.”