In 1974 a military Revolution changed the political regime, and
opened the Portuguese society to new social, economic and
cultural challenges. A reform launched by the old regime in
1973 as a response to a social and economic need to modernize
Portuguese society, was adjusted but continued until the full
creation of the binary system. This organizational option was
adopted for the higher education system to enhance its ability
to produce knowledge, to deliver teaching and to give the
expected contribution to improve the economy and to raise
culture and qualification in society. During all the time, economic
issues have been present in discourse about higher education:
as the essential issue of funding to assure the sustainability
of institutions; as a contributor agent through knowledge
transfer to increase productivity and economy. At European level the willingness and decision to introduce changes at higher
education systems became merged with a European initiative
to increase the potential of European economy. In Portugal the
Bologna Process triggered a reform of the higher education
system, from legal framework to pedagogical methodologies
in the classroom, and so is an opportunity to improve quality
and deepen the identity of institutions and sectors.