Interview with professor Marília Evangelista Sota Favinha - curriculum and teacher training in Portugal: contemporary challenges and perspectives

Abstract

Professor Marília Favinha holds a Ph.D. in Educational Sciences from the University of Évora (2007), a master's degree in Cultural History and Contemporary Politics of Portugal from the Nova University of Lisbon (1997), and a bachelor's degree in History Teaching from the University of Évora (1992). She currently serves as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Pedagogy and Education, where she stands out as a counselor in the Department Assembly. In addition, she is the director of two master's programs: the Master's in Educational Sciences, with an emphasis on Administration, Regulation, and Educational Policies, and the Master's in Educational Sciences offered in São Tomé and Príncipe, both in the field of Educational Sciences. Professor Favinha focuses on topics related to curriculum, teacher training, and school management, supervising theses and dissertations, while also promoting academic exchange among Portuguese-speaking countries. In this interview, she discusses contemporary challenges and perspectives of the Portuguese educational system. Topics explored include formative stages for working in basic education and higher education, curriculum policies, the aging teaching workforce, and the impacts of academic exchange among Portuguese-speaking countries. Her experience, combined with her international involvement, offers an in-depth analysis of Portuguese educational policies and their intersections with international cooperation, highlighting the mutual contributions between Portugal and other nations.