Pandemic Impact on Adult Education and Training Practices in Portugal

Abstract

Portugal has been developing policy initiatives aimed at raising the levels of education and professional qualifications of the adult population. Among the most innovative practices resulting from these proposals, a system of recognition, validation, and certification of competences was implemented, based on centers and teams prepared for the development of these innovative activities. With the 2020 pandemic, educational practices, until then essentially face-to-face, were forced to use different means and to resort to digital technologies. This chapter presents the results of an investigation carried out through a questionnaire aimed at professionals from the centers that allows us to conclude that, despite some difficulties and regardless of the unquestionable importance of face-to-face activities, the use of digital technologies was presented as a good solution and can be enhanced in favor of training people and the activity of the centers.