The Liberal Initiative (IL) proposed on Tuesday that the government’s limit on places for international students in higher education should not apply to private universities, given that they enjoy “financial, administrative and pedagogical autonomy.”
Under a bill that was introduced in Parliament today, the Liberals intend to change the decree-law governing the status of foreign students, thereby ensuring that private institutions of higher education are not “subject to current limits on the number of foreign students they can receive.”
According to the bill, this restriction on places should apply only to public higher education institutions.
“The previous Minister of Science, Technology and Higher Education on June 30, 2021 set a limit of places for foreign students for the 2021-2022 and 2022-2023 academic years, corresponding to 30% for each higher education institution. and private,” refers to the IL legislative initiative.
According to liberals, “private institutions follow their own educational blueprint, they are financed directly by their students, users and users, thus enjoying financial, administrative and pedagogical autonomy that should not be limited by the government.”
“This restriction imposed on private higher education institutions is an obstacle to the free enrollment of foreign students, to the principle of autonomy and resource management, an obstacle to the quality and competitiveness of Portuguese higher education, and an obstacle to the freedom of private higher education institutions,” criticizes.
For a party led by João Cotrim Figueiredo, one cannot “neglect” the potential of human capital, which, thanks to academic experience, can remain or become a vehicle for future relations with the country.
Even on higher education, IL today submitted to Parliament two draft resolutions, that is, recommendations that do not have the force of law.
One of the drafts recommends that the government “immediately assess the legal regime of higher education institutions in order to guarantee the proper functioning of higher education institutions”.
Another of the recommendations to the leadership of the PS is to study and approve a new formula for funding higher education, “containing clear and objective criteria for the quality and efficiency of higher education institutions and ensuring full compliance with the Basic Law on the financing of higher education.” which the liberals want to see approved in parliament.
Author: Lusa
Source: CM Jornal
