Mapping and socio-economic dynamics of higher education students in Grande Porto and Grande Lisboa

This study aims to focus on the two largest population centres in Portugal to contribute to the definition of policies – from the central State, the municipalities and the HEIs – that promote the improvement of the lives of higher education students in Grande Porto (GP) and Grande Lisboa (GL). It is, therefore, a matter of knowing who they are, where they are, how they live, how they move and what support conditions benefit higher education students in the areas of GP and GL. This study also aims to characterize the policies for setting the number of places in the HEIs of GP and GL to contribute to the analysis and framing of the main problems that students in these areas face. Thus, the study intends to cover the following aspects: identification of the socio-economic profile of higher education students from GP and GL; their geographic distribution and movement patterns; their living conditions; and social support for GP and GL higher education students. The specific objectives of this research study are the following: Socio-economic profile of the higher education students from GP and GL 1. Know the students who attend the HEIs of GP and GL through a socio-economic characterization of their profile; 2. Know the socio-economic reality of students in the 1st, 2nd and 3rd stages to understand whether dropouts from the 1st to the 2nd stage are related to that reality; 3. Identify displaced students. Geographic distribution and population dynamics of higher education students from GP and GL 4. Map the population of higher education students living in GP and GL, particularly in the municipalities of Porto and Lisbon and in their peripheral municipalities; 5. Identify the places with the highest student density; 6. Understand whether students settle in GP and GL when they conclude the 1st study cycle and whether there are expectations to live in these cities after this period. Travel patterns of higher education students from GP and GL 7. Identify the travel pattern of higher education students from GP and GL (reason for travel, means of transport used – metro, bus, tram, train, scooter and bicycle –, distance travelled and time spent), their expectations about the use of individual or public transport, opinion about the public transport network and connection to cycle path networks. Living conditions of higher education students from GP and GL 8. Identify where and with whom GP and GL higher education students live (parents' home, Social Services residence, private residence, rented room, ...), as well as assess housing conditions (comfort, internet access, study space, ...). Social support for higher education students from GP and GL 9. Identify the responses of direct and indirect social action, namely, the offer of canteens and accommodation, and analyze whether they meet the needs. With the attainment of these objectives, the study seeks to answer the following questions: • What is the socio-economic reality and life situation of higher education students in GP and GL? • Where do they live and how do they get around daily? • What are the social action responses that seek to meet students' welfare needs (from a socio-economic, psychological and health point of view)? • What is the coverage of accommodation, food services and the transport network? • How do these issues relate to the policy for setting places available in GP and GL?