"O Ensino Superior e a Formação e Aprendizagem ao Longo da Vida"

ABSTRACT In the behalf of CNAVES – the Portuguese agency for HE evaluation –we developed this study with the main purpose of assessing the role played by Higher Education (HE) in the usually called lifewide learning process. Likewise six Portuguese HE institutions and four among the main economic groups, together with ten small and medium enterprises have been addressed a specific survey. Professional associations have been called to participate as well but only one of them adhered. In order to obtain a more acute characterization of the Portuguese situation we run via internet a complementary research on the articulation between foreign HE institutions and enterprises leading to educational community networks and/or corporate universities. Among the main results we could perceive the weakness of the Portuguese HE institutions * enterprises network and the conclusion that the main reasons for articulation consist in participating in the advisory boards. Universities are not adopting so far any meaningful organization’s or syllabuses’ innovation in order to specifically address “new public” needs and only a few among them systematically develop graduate follow up after they enter into labor market.