Portuguese Public Higher Education Institutions Research Articles

Mechanisms for facilitating academic entrepreneurship in higher education

PurposeThe commercialization of research produced by universities constitutes a core facet of academic entrepreneurship (AE). Academic literature reveals the need to shed light on entrepreneurial processes in higher education institutions (HEIs). This study intends to fill this gap by researching the mechanisms for facilitating AE and the variables that can moderate the relationship between such mechanisms and AE in Portuguese HEIs.Design/methodology/approachOur research model aims to assess the mechanisms of academic entrepreneurship (AE) within a sample of 125 Portuguese public higher education institutions (HEIs). To test our research hypotheses, we employed a structural equation model (SEM) using the partial least squares (PLS) method. Additionally, our evaluation examines the potential moderating effects of incubator programs, support initiatives, and proof-of-concept programs (PoCs). Our research model seeks to evaluate the mechanisms for facilitating AE and explore the effects of including incubator programs, support initiatives, and PoCs as moderators. The seven variables (Research mobilization, Unconventionality, Industry collaboration, University policies, Incubator programs and support initiatives, Proof-of-concept programs, and academic entrepreneurship) were measured using a 7-point Likert scale.FindingsThe results revealed that different drivers of AE influence the creation and development of entrepreneurial activities. Our findings also show the moderating effects of incubator programs, support initiatives, and proof-of-concept programs on AE. We find that incubator programs, other support initiatives, and PoCs maintain a moderating effect on AE and benefit their respective HEIs.Research limitations/implicationsThe study examines only the Portuguese HEI context. Therefore, generalizing these results necessitates reservations. However, the responses came from various actors in HEIs, from different academic backgrounds and research interests. This makes the results more generalizable. Limitations are evident in external validity, given that we gathered the data over a relatively short period.Practical implicationsObserved factors are explored to gain a deeper understanding of their influence on the mechanisms of AE. The implications arise from the new perspective presented and the methodology used to identify mechanisms capable of fostering AE. We hope this research will encourage other researchers to study this topic further.Social implicationsthe engagement of universities at the global level should be emphasised in future policy. While universities in innovation systems often have a local focus, their engagement in innovation ecosystems transcends the boundaries of geographic locations.Originality/valuePoCs had a significant positive moderating effect on the impact of research mobilization and university policies on AE. Thus, we find interactions between universities and industry boost AE. This study demonstrates how AE benefits HEIs by extending orientation towards mobilizing research, unconventional approaches, cooperation with industry, and university policy implementation. We thus advocate a new approach, demonstrating the influence that the mobility of research, unconventionality, industry collaboration, and university policies hold over AE.

Sustainable development in Portuguese higher education institutions from the faculty perspective

Higher education institutions play a fundamental role and have great responsibility in promoting sustainability and achieving sustainable development goals. It is therefore essential to study the teacher's perceptions of incorporating sustainability since they are responsible for promoting competences and preparing citizens to respond with solutions to future challenges. The aim of this research is to analyse the perceptions of sustainability held by teachers at Portuguese public higher education institutions. A descriptive and exploratory study was conducted by administering an online questionnaire. The sample is made up of 444 teachers from different Portuguese public higher education institutions (54.1% women and 45.9% men). The results show that while most teachers believe higher education institutions promote the integration of sustainability in their activities, only 16% consider that sustainable development is holistically integrated in the institutions' different activities. About 30% of the teachers report that they largely or extensively integrate sustainable development in their curricular units, but only 20% of them state that higher education institutions provide regular or systematic training in SD. Teachers prefer to increase students' sustainable development education through conferences, seminars, or research projects. Almost 90% of teachers are concerned about climate change or the environment, but only 40% or less engage in sustainable development-related activities. Four clusters are also identified, representing teachers' different perceptions of the higher education institutions' promotion of sustainability, teachers' participation in sustainable development issues and concerns about climate change. Although teachers feel that sustainability is starting to be integrated in higher education institutions, this is not done holistically; moreover, differences are found between teachers in polytechnics and universities and between different scientific areas.

The Role of Higher Education Institutions and Entrepreneurial Orientation in the Creation and Development of Academic Spinoffs

Academic spinoffs have received great attention in recent years as a means of transferring the knowledge generated by the research activities of higher education institutions (HEIs). Despite the contribution identified by the literature, there remains a lack of empirical evidence substantiating how the creation of academic spinoffs is enabled by entrepreneurial orientation (EO) and HEIs. This study theorises on the relevance of EO within the context of universities and how such an orientation may drive the founding and development of academic spinoffs. Based on a qualitative study, with 15 interviews from university rectors/presidents, faculty/school deans, degree program directors at Portuguese public HEIs, and founders of spinoffs, the results generate two relevant insights: (i) EO is relevant to the creation, growth, and performance of academic spinoffs, and (ii) personal fulfilment, the transfer of knowledge acquired in HEIs and the search for economic independence represent the main motivations for the creation of academic spinoffs. The findings are discussed to highlight their implications for theory, practice and policy-making.

Sustainable development practices in public higher education: A new conceptual framework for nurturing student satisfaction and reinforcing attractiveness to international students

AbstractUsing a multi‐layer review based on stakeholder, institutional and legitimacy theories, the current study presents and empirically analyses a novel conceptual framework addressing the relationship between sustainable development practices, internationalization and students' satisfaction in public higher education institutions. Based on participants' self‐perception, a questionnaire was distributed to 738 students at seven Portuguese public higher education institutions. Structural equation modeling was utilized to estimate the multivariate causal relationships. The evidence shows that SDP are positively, directly, and significantly related to internationalization and students' satisfaction. Students' satisfaction is directly and significantly associated with internationalization, also revealing a moderating effect on the relationship between sustainable development practices and internationalization. To achieve legitimacy among their stakeholders, public higher education institutions must build an institutional commitment to sustainability by adopting and disseminating sustainable development practices with actions on a livable campus.

Can Higher Education Institutions’ Stakeholders Drive Regional Sustainable Development? Yes, They Can?!

Although Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) develop and announce actions related to sustainable development (SD), these actions and the results achieved are often not perceived by their stakeholders. This article aims to analyse how the SD of HEIs can contribute to better development and regional transformation, through the promotion of sustainable practices with effects on the regional environment. To do so, an exploratory quantitative analysis, with a sample of 1325 stakeholders collected from seven Portuguese public HEIs, using a multinomial logistic regression, was carried out. The results indicate that HEIs’ stakeholders pay attention to sustainability practices, and that regional development and the sustainability of the region of influence can emerge positively from the links found between these two variables and the dimensions of SD in the HEIs studied. The contributions and implications of these results can be seen from the perspective of HEIs, because it shows that both students and lecturers/researchers are aware of and value this type of practice by the institution, and HEIs must create strategies integrating stakeholders more actively in sustainable practices through the development of sustainable skills and competences, and from the regional policy perspective, given the potential and importance of HEIs as integrated actors within their region of influence.

Integration of sustainability in the curricula of public higher education institutions in Portugal: do strategic plans and self-report align?

PurposeThis study aims to explore the alignment between strategic plans of the Portuguese public higher education institutions (HEIs) and their perception of the integration of sustainability in education and curricula.Design/methodology/approachThe strategic plans from 15 institutions were selected for content analysis; data about the integration of sustainability in education and curricula, from these HEI, were collected with an online questionnaire (self-report survey). Qualitative and quantitative analyses were performed.FindingsStrategic plans of the Portuguese public HEIs seem to not be sufficiently aligned with self-assessment integration of sustainability in education and curricula.Research limitations/implicationsThe classifications used in the content analysis were constructed and revised by the authors to reduce coder interpretation issues and subsequent bias in the results. However, some subjectivity could remain. The analysis of strategic plans and self-report surveys answered by top management, or a technician, does not assess the practices and sustainability implementation in education and curricula.Practical implicationsThis study allows the self-report of already-implemented practices to be compared to the planned strategy of HEI governance in Portugal as stated in their strategic plans.Originality/valueAn analysis and respective insights on the lack of connection between strategic planning and self-report practices about sustainability implementation, using Portugal as a case study.

Identifying critical success factors for the General Data Protection Regulation implementation in higher education institutions

PurposeOn May 25, 2018, the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) became mandatory for all organizations that handle the personal data of European Union citizens. This exploratory study aims to determine the critical success factors (CSFs) related to implementing the GDPR in Portuguese public higher education institutions (HEIs).Design/methodology/approachThis study adopts a multimethod methodology with qualitative and quantitative methods. A multiple case study was carried out in Portuguese public universities. As procedures for data collecting and analysis, semistructured interviews with 26 questions were conducted with the data protection officers of these universities during May and July 2019 to derive a set of CSFs. Next, the Delphi method has been applied to determine the ranking of the CSFs. The hierarchical clusters analysis has also been applied to determine the cluster with essential CSFs. To derive the CSF, the method by Caralli et al. (2004) has been applied.FindingsThis study has identified the list of 16 CSFs related to the implementation of GDPR in HEIs, among which we can highlight, for instance, empower workers on the GDPR; commit top management with the GDPR; implement the GDPR with the involvement of management and workers; create a culture for data protection; and create a decentralized team of pivots for data protection.Research limitations/implicationsIt could have been more enriching in the CSF determination process if all Portuguese public universities had participated in this study. In fact, within their many similarities, universities are also very different in approaching privacy and data protection. New studies are needed to determine whether the CSFs identified apply equally to other organizations, namely, private HEIs with less bureaucracy.Originality/valueIdentifying CSFs related to GDPR implementation in Portuguese public universities is a new area of study. This paper is a contribution to its development.

Resisting, accepting and supporting gender equality in Portuguese Higher Education Institutions: Leadership Profiles

In the European context, Portugal is the country with the lowest number of women (1.9% in 2016) at the top of the academic career and just 30% of women in the leadership of HEIs (She Figures 2018; Elsevier, 2021; Cabrera, 2019; Carvalho and Diogo, 2018). Paradoxically, it is also one of the European countries where female academics have the highest publishing productivity (Elsevier, 2021) and make up most of the doctorates (55% in 2016). Only very recently, however, these inequalities began to receive attention. In 2019, for example, women's participation in academic decision-making and leadership became required by law (National Law 26/2019) in all Portuguese public higher education institutions. And levelling effects of this law are soon expected since human resources management in the public HE institutions in Portugal is a centralised system (OECD, 2021). In this context it also becomes interesting to understand what academic leaders think about the promotion of gender equality in HEIs. This paper seeks to address this question. As part of a larger research project exploring gender equality issues in HEIs in Portugal we dethatched qualitative interviews conducted with HEIs leaders throughout the country. The project also involved secondary analyses of national and international data on gender equality and four case studies in HEIs with an action research approach. The outcome of the analysis was an exploratory typology identifying three specific profiles among interviewees – Resisting, Accepting, and Supporting – conveying different ways of understanding and dealing with gender equality issues in HEIs. Overall, this qualitative analysis found a greater awareness about Gender Equality than what has been reported in previous research (e.g. Carvalho, White and Machado-Taylor 2013; Carvalho, Özkanli and Machado-Taylor, 2012; Carvalho and Machado-Taylor, 2010). The paper describes and illustrates each of these profiles and discusses implications of these findings for promoting gender equality in HEIs in Portugal and beyond.

Higher education students' perceptions of sustainable development in Portugal

Higher education institutions play an increasingly important role in advancing sustainable development. Various studies have demonstrated the key contribution made by teachers to achieving sustainable development. However, few works have addressed students' perceptions in this regard and given that the students of today will be the main influencers and decision-makers of the future, a greater understanding of their beliefs and attitudes towards sustainable development should be gleaned. The aim of this research is to analyse the perceptions of sustainable development held by students at Portuguese public higher education institutions. To this end, a descriptive and exploratory study was conducted by administering an online questionnaire. The sample is made up of 1257 students from different Portuguese public higher education institutions (68.6% women; average age 24.96 years). The results show that although the students recognise the importance of sustainable development and most of them have already heard about the sustainable development goals (16% never heard about them), they believe that the higher education institutions could and should give more training on this matter. Most students state that they would accept a lower salary from a company with a good social and environmental performance in some circumstances. The majority also have pro-sustainability habits and behaviours. Most of the students are concerned about climate change, most speak of some reusing, reducing and recycling practices, but fewer students contribute to sustainable development by participating in activities (e.g., environmental or community volunteering) organised by environmental organisations or the higher education institution. Differences in the behaviours and habits related to sustainability were observed between the students of different genders, ages and scientific areas. The results further present four clusters of students regarding their perception of sustainable development and related practices. The largest cluster (about 45%) includes students who are more concerned about climate change, actively contribute to sustainable development with reuse, reduction and recycling practices, and participate in organised activities to promote the protection of the environment or society. The smallest cluster (about 8%) includes students who are still sceptical about climate change and therefore adopt less environmentally friendly practices. Five years after the publication of the sustainable development goals, students feel that sustainability is starting to be integrated in education. However, the impact on their behaviours and attitudes remains moderate.

Mathematics Classes for Tourism Undergraduate Students and Pre-service Teachers with Active Methodologies using Technologies

In the last few decades, technology has advanced in multiple fields, including Education. Some of its benefits include improving student performance and motivation, fostering active learning and tracking student progress. Game-based learning platforms, like Kahoot!, can be used for reviewing content and motivating students for learning. The participants in the study are undergraduate and postgraduate students from two Portuguese public higher education institutions. The aim of the study is to investigate students’ perceptions of how Kahoot! can be used as a tool for reviewing class content or designing warm-up activities. A quantitative survey is being conducted to gather information about students’ insights on the use of Kahoot!. Other studies have also shown that higher education students are usually receptive to the use of this tool, finding it useful to increase their motivation and considering that technology can positively impact learning.

Teaching sustainable development in business sciences degrees: evidence from Portugal

PurposeThis paper aims to analyze the current state of integration of sustainable development (SD), in the academic curricula of Business Sciences degrees, including matters about Ethics, Corporate Social Responsibility and Sustainability. In this way, the paper explores how Portuguese public higher education institutions (HEI) contribute to teaching about sustainable development (TSD).Design/methodology/approachThe study focuses on Business Sciences degrees. The webpages of all public HEI with BSc and MSc degrees in those areas in Portugal were analyzed, to obtain curricular plans and syllabus. Content analysis was performed on each of these elements of Accounting and Taxation and Management and Business Administration courses.FindingsThere is already some concern about addressing SD in Business Sciences, inasmuch as SD-related topics are taught in Accounting and Taxation and in Management and Business Administration degrees and courses. However, the analysis shows that TSD was integrated into the academic curricula in only 95 degrees (48.5%). Additionally, in these, there are only 79 compulsory curricular units that address this theme. Given the fact that the subject of SD is increasingly relevant, the paper evidence still much room for improvement, indicating that TSD is yet a big challenge for HEI.Originality/valueTSD is increasingly important because of the growing globalization that requires skilled professionals able to assess the complex and controversial issues related to the topic, to achieve and implement the SD goals in 2030. The literature evidence lack of studies addressing the integration of the SD theme in academic curricula. This paper makes here a contribution by showing what HEI is teaching in the area of business studies. It also brings good implications for society, while showing that sustainability content is becoming more apparent within certain HEI courses. This could be used to create follow up research on what type of sustainability content is being included within the courses and the learning that is happening in students in regard to this sustainability content.

Portuguese Public Higher Education Institutions Investment in Low Density Regions — Case Study

Portuguese Public Higher Education Institutions Investment in Low Density Regions — Case Study

Are the sustainable development goals being implemented in the Portuguese higher education formative offer?

Purpose The study aims to examine the vertical integration of the sustainable development goals (SGDs) in Portuguese public higher education institutions, namely, at the level of undergraduate and master’s degrees, and the extent to which Portuguese higher education institutions (HEI) are preparing for the United Nations’ call to promote SDGs. Design/methodology/approach A content analysis of the designations and objectives of the 2,556 undergraduate and master’s degrees (in 33 Portuguese public higher education institutions) was done to determine whether they promote at least one SDG. Findings The results show that 198 courses directly address at least one SDG; on average, each higher education institution (HEI) has six courses that explicitly address at least one SDG; universities have more courses in SDG areas than in polytechnics; more master’s degrees embrace SDGs than undergraduate degrees; and most of the courses addressing SDGs are from the social sciences and humanities areas and from natural and environmental sciences. Originality/value This paper serves to raise the awareness of Portuguese HEIs of their role and responsibility in furthering SGDs.

Higher Education and Assessment of Entrepreneurial Skills by Academic Stakeholders

This paper is based on a national study of entrepreneurship programmes and experiences related to non-formal and informal learning processes which have taken placed in higher education in order to promote entrepreneurial skills among (post) graduates. The notions of "Learning Society" and "Lifelong Education" are closely linked with the development of a new educational paradigm which aims to enhance learning opportunities and new applications of knowledge in "organizations of all types and in all spheres of life" (Gibb, 2005). Empirical findings are gathered from the research project called Link.EES (Learning, Innovation, Networks and Knowledge), focused on Entrepreneurship in Higher Education, and funded by the Operational Programme of technical Assistance (OPTA), by the European Social Fund (OPTA – ESF). The methodological design was divided into the following steps: application of an online survey on 57 academic stakeholders of the Portuguese public Higher Education Institutions (HEI); selection of 12 case studies of good practices in the institutions of higher education and subsequent analysis by conducting in‐depth interviews; and, finally, development of a repertoire of best practices in entrepreneurial skills and their validation by key actors and academic stakeholders. Three goals are pursued: i) a comprehensive meaning of “entrepreneurial learning”, taking into account the European concept of “entrepreneurial spirit”; ii) an increasing importance of programmes/experiences as well as infrastructures and services, related to entrepreneurial learning provided by the main academic stakeholders; iii) and finally, a crucial involvement of academic stakeholders in a collaborative effort to promote the entrepreneurship mindset in the academia. Our aim is to assess the collaborative work achieved through the direct participation of key stakeholders in entrepreneurial learning, by building a crucial repertoire of entrepreneurial skills linked to the formation, self-employment and labour market transition.

Conceptualization of sustainable higher education institutions, roles, barriers, and challenges for sustainability: An exploratory study in Portugal

Higher Education Institutions play an important role in the promotion of sustainability and an increasing number of stakeholders expect them to be sustainable organizations. However, this can only be achieved when barriers are faced and challenges overcome.This exploratory study aims to investigate how the main stakeholders (leaders, faculty, staff, students, and external stakeholders) of Portuguese Public Higher Education Institutions perceive: the concepts of sustainability and sustainable higher education institutions, the role of higher education for sustainable development, and the barriers, challenges and obstacles to implementing sustainable initiatives in Portuguese Public Higher Education Institutions. Through a qualitative approach, using semi-structured interviews and content analysis procedures, this article explore the perspectives of twenty stakeholders from four Portuguese Public Higher Education Institutions. The results suggest that, although aware of the concept of sustainability, the different stakeholders are not familiar with the concept of sustainable higher education institutions. The lack of financial resources due to the decline in funding for higher education and falling numbers of Portuguese university students is perceived as the main barrier to sustainable development in higher education (i.e. practices are still associated with spending financial resources). This research highlights the importance of a conceptual and organizational change in higher education institutions, notably through identifying new sources of financing, more flexible organizational forms, more comprehensive mission statements, more tailored educational offers, life-long learning and commitment to internationalization, and more strategic human resource management. The paper contributes to the literature by reflecting on how higher education institutions can promote sustainability, how higher education for sustainable development is understood and can be improved in Portuguese Higher Education Institutions.

The reform process of Portuguese higher education institutions: from collegial to managerial governance

Portuguese public higher education institutions have been undergoing a major reform process since 2007. The most noticeable changes were introduced by Law 62/2007, which gave higher education institutions the option to choose between two different institutional models (foundational and public institute), and allowed the implementation of new government and management structures. We know, from the institutionalism theoretical perspective, that in a process of change institutions tend to be more similar than diverse. This study aims to analyse how Portuguese higher education institutions reacted to external pressures and reorganised their internal government and management structures. The main question it tries to answer is to what extent were institutions able to introduce more diversity in their organisational models? In order to find clues to answer this question, the study compares higher education institutions’ internal structures by developing a qualitative study based on content analysis of internal ...

Tracing the use of Communication Technologies in Portuguese Higher Education towards teachers’ professional development

Aiming to characterize the way Portuguese Public Higher Education Institutions use Communication Technologies (CTs), the on-going project at University of Aveiro TRACER will apply a national online survey, therefore developing a prior pilot-study undertaken with validation purposes. This paper describes and summarizes part of the work developed within the pilot-survey, which includes a theoretical review outlining the context of CTs use and its impact on teacher training. First results of the pilot-study, which included four institutions, will be used to present institutional perspectives about CT use. The responses cannot be generalized as wide-reaching statements, but they already reveal that higher education institutions are making an effort to bring together policies and practices. Also, there seems to be a common awareness and concern about teacher training in this area, although training main topics and modalities seem to vary significantly. Results show that despite the uneven spread of responses about the existence of a formal political strategy concerning CT, there is an institutional investment (currently and foreseen in a near future) on CTs, namely on teacher training for CTs use.

Sexuality and human reproduction: a study of scientific knowledge, behaviours and beliefs of Portuguese future elementary school teachers

Sex education in Portugal has become a right and an obligation starting in the first years of school. However, despite being required by legislation, this is not easy to achieve, partly because of weaknesses in the training of teachers, which need to be identified. In this study, data were collected about the knowledge, behaviours and beliefs of 148 teacher trainees of elementary education (6–10 years old) from two Portuguese public higher education institutions. The topic of sexuality and human reproduction had been covered by almost all of them during their initial training and was considered important by most of them. Nevertheless, about 85% asserted they are not confident enough to teach this topic to small children in a classroom and committed scientific errors about physiological‐anatomical aspects of the human body. All subjects felt that there is a lack of specific didactic materials, which does not help to overcome those obstacles. It was also possible to identify in these future teachers risky sexual practices resulting, in part, from their beliefs, which could have implications about the way the topic will be approached in the classroom. These findings show how essential it is for training institutions to pay greater attention to the education of future elementary school teachers in this area.