Eurydice

Bilateral agreements

As a result of increasingly close relations with other countries, the regulation of areas where it is necessary to establish international rules, or the reaffirmation of its participation in international organisations, much like other democratic states, Portugal uses bilateral or multilateral treaties, agreements or conventions as voluntary and discretionary foreign policy tools.

There are mainly two types of areas within education where treaties or agreements are forged:

European, global and intercultural dimension in curriculum development

European, global and intercultural dimension in curriculum development

Most Portuguese higher education institutions (HEIs), both public and private, have an international relations department (Gabinete de Relações Internacionais), which coordinates, monitors and supports the development of all initiatives related to internationalisation, in terms of academic cooperation and student/teacher mobility.

European, global and intercultural dimension in curriculum development

Learner mobility

The mobility of students/trainees (or learners) can take place via bilateral cooperation or partnerships or twinning between education and training institutions in Portugal and non-community countries, and also as part of EU programmes in the field of education and training.

Student mobility

Mobility takes place through bilateral cooperation, partnerships or twinning between schools in Portugal and non-EU countries, as well as via EU education and training programmes, such as Erasmus+. 

In this area, the Direção-Geral dos Estabelecimentos Escolares (DGEstE) is only involved in authorising the mobilities.

Erasmus+ Programme

In Portugal, mobility and internationalisation in education and training focus on three priority areas: cooperation at EU level, international cooperation and development cooperation.

This involves a variety of national bodies, such as:

Academic guidance

Definition of the target groups  

People who have not completed the 1st cycle of basic education

The Qualifica Programme has made a decisive contribution to improving adult qualifications and skills. However, attendance and completion rates of qualification programmes for adults with basic qualifications are poor.