Schemes for supporting students in higher education

13 July 2005 to 16 July 2005
Lisbon, Portugal

Peer Learning Cluster or other group

Making best use of resources

Background

The first PLA of the Peer Learning Cluster on ‘Making best use of resources’ was organised by the Portuguese Ministry of Education.

 

The main aim was to present the current policy of supporting students in higher education in Portugal in order to foster mutual learning and discussions between the 7 participant countries (see list below).

Description

Key issues raised:

  • A clear difference emerges here between Continental and Mediterranean countries;
  • The crucial need to expand the exact definition of equity;
  • Student support policies relate to the importance of financial means in affecting university attendance;
  • The need to get the right balance in combining grants and loans in supporting student attendance at higher education institutions.

Out of the PLA activity, some principles emerged from country experiences.

They included the following points:

  • A general feature should accompany any subsidy scheme: simplicity of rules and transparency of information;
  • The importance of quality assessment of higher education institutions;
  • The need of balancing the incentives on students and incentives on universities.
Knowledge System for Lifelong Learning