Accessing higher education after 23 years old: Opportunities and motivations

Abstract

This article reports a case study in a Portuguese public institution of higher education that aimed at characterizing the profile of the students that access the institution, through examinations for candidates aged 23 or over (M23 Access), focusing on the motivations for their entry and on their perspective of this type of access to higher education. This mixed method study used a questionnaire, answered by 180 former students. Acquisition of new knowledge, personal valorization and a professional change are among the most important reasons to access higher education. While analyzing the results, we are also able to discern the importance of implementing educational policies for adults, which, in the Portuguese case and regarding the promotion of learning opportunities for all, are still few and poorly disseminated.