Unity in Diversity at the University of Porto

In July 2007 ECAR initiated preliminary efforts to extend its research understanding of information technology practices outside of the United States and Canada. The goal was to study important practices underway in universities and colleges in the developed and emerging world economies in order to expand the international relevance of ECAR research. This case study examines the University of Porto’s effort to create a competitive, unified European university. It highlights the exciting and innovative work being undertaken at this Portuguese institution to address issues of accreditation, faculty autonomy, decentralization, and nationalization—all against a backdrop of shrinking budgets, declining morale, changes in governance, and the influence of trade unions.

Citation for this work: Katz, Richard N., and Ted Dodds. “Unity in Diversity at the University of Porto” (Case Study 4). Boulder, CO: EDUCAUSE Center for Applied Research, 2009, available from http://www.educause.edu/ecar.