History of Education

Professor Joaquim Pintassilgo

The PhD Programme in History of Education aims to expand and further historical and pedagogical knowledge about the Portuguese, European and world educational thought and realities. More specifically, it allows writing about educational evolution; preserving the educational, cultural and school memory and patrimony; valuing historical education in current society; contributing to interdisciplinarity in educational understanding and development; deepening humanistic and civic awareness.

The history of education, whose epistemic field and concept marks continue to grow, is gaining prominence as a fundamental scientific domain in the systematic approach of Educational Sciences and as a paradigm to learn, think and express educational complexity and evolution (school and non-school). In the framework of 17th century Rationalism and through Modernity, history, as an inquiry into human thought and search, memory and master of life, and education, as present, rational, orderly and construction of the future, have met, as the Portuguese case shows. In its social, political, biographical, hagiographic, prosopographic aspects, history constituted the grounds educational condition. The historical development of education is filled with distinct memories, discourses, practices, pedagogies and pedagogues, thinkers, patrimonies, organics, institutions, territorialities, temporalities, sociabilities which the national space of education, linked to the Nation-State, was an alternative and beneficiary, as opposed to the local, regional, federal.

Historical consciousness-information is the object of an array of manifestations (ephemeris, celebration, exhibition, historical patrimony, museum, archive, library, recreation) and of civic, enlightened, argumentative participation. Historiographic research and communication of educational issues configure and give meaning to an area of expertise, sought by historians and by scholars from other scientific areas. This doctorate is for both.

The Doctor’s degree in History of Education from the University of Lisbon is under the responsibility of the Instituto de Educação and has the collaboration of invited Portuguese and foreign experts.

This course is aimed at researchers, teachers, archivists, librarians, cultural agents working on historical-educational thought and reality, who are Masters in History of Education, Education, Educational Sciences, History or in the Social and Human Sciences.

Holders of a Master’s degree in History of Education, Education, Educational Sciences, History or in the Social and Human Sciences may apply. Exceptionally, holders of a Bachelor’s degree or legal equivalent may also apply, if they have a particularly relevant academic or scientific curriculum that is recognised by the Scientific Council of the Instituto de Educação (ULisboa) as attesting their capacity to carry out doctoral studies in History of Education.

The main way to enter the doctorate is by applying for an open tender for a Doctoral Programme according to the field and specialty, with the indication of the number of places available. This invitation to tender will be advertised through a public notice and is subject to compliance with specific rules and forms.

In the doctoral areas where there is no call for tender, candidates must send an application to the Scientific Council of the Instituto de Educação of the Universidade de Lisboa, formalizing their candidacy. Only in exceptional and duly justified cases may an individual candidacy enter the doctorate in a specialty area in years when an open tender took place.