Science of Lifelong Educational Processes

Specific learning outcomes of the Programme

The 2nd cycle degree programme in Science of Continuing Education and Lifelong Learning aims to produce professionals capable of playing highly qualified roles in the arrangement of seminars and services targeting adults with a view to vocational training, adult education, professional catch-up and requalification, counselling and skill balancing, return to work and lifelong learning. In this area our country falls short of the Lisbon objectives laid down by the European Union for all member states. These professional figures must be able to work with schools, training institutions and cultural organisations, the business and company system, educational and cultural associations.

To train these professional figures, the degree programme offers a series of course units divided into theory (largely legal and social-pedagogical) and practical skills (in the social, psychological and pedagogical fields); there will also be internships with organisations providing information and counselling policies, training seminars and (formal and informal) lifelong learning services, as well as educational and socio-cultural community engagement for adults (from young adults to seniors).

Graduates in Science of Continuing Education and Lifelong Learning complete their studies with knowledge of the English language to level B2. Study may include both acquisition of the four skills (reading, writing, listening and speaking) and compulsory attendance of lessons, in line with the criteria specified by the degree programme and consistent with the Academic Guidelines.

Admission requirements

Admission requirements for the Degree Programme

To join the second-cycle degree programme in Science of Continuing Education and Lifelong Learning one needs the following:

1. Academic qualification

- to have a degree in one of the Classes under D.M. 270/04 or D.M. 509/99 or under the previous four-year system or to have gained another academic qualification abroad which is recognised as compatible and equivalent;

2. Curricular requirements

- to have gained 90 credits in the humanities area at least 60 of which in M-PED, SPS, M-PSI, M-DEA/01.

Non possession of curricular requisites (well-prepared graduates coming from academic careers that do not properly match the access requirements)

Failing possession of the above credits, applicants to the master's degree programme must undergo a preliminary assessment by a Committee which will interview the candidate to see if he/she possesses the requisite skills and background knowledge.

The Committee appointed by the second-cycle Degree Programme Board will set dates for interviews, to be held between September and December. The dates will be published on the degree programme website.

If the Committee judges the graduate's knowledge and skills to be compatible with the assessment standards outlined in the next section, it will issue a verdict of suitability, granting admission to enrol on the second-cycle Degree Programme in Science of Continuing Education and Lifelong Learning.

3. Assessment of personal knowledge

- To be admitted to the second-cycle Degree programme one needs to possess the curricular requisites mentioned and pass a personal knowledge assessment, which will be dispensed with where the student's degree grade is 100/110 or above.

Students who did not achieve that threshold must undergo an interview before a special Committee appointed by the Degree Programme which will assess whether their skills and background knowledge are compatible with the degree programme.

The form of this interview will be established by the Degree Programme Board at an early date and published on the degree programme website.

The second-cycle degree programme may decide on a special session for international students and appoint a Committee to check the suitability of their academic background, if the Call for study grant allocation allows time (its deadline is usually in May).

If international students have been positively evaluated under the foregoing point, they are exempt from the next step foreseen for the majority of students, viz. a test of their personal knowledge.

The degree programme may restrict the number of students according to the resources available. In that case the number of students who may enrol and the process of selection will be published every year in a special Call for applications.