Knowledge of the students’ characteristics and their academic paths is crucial to promote higher quality educational practices and academic life forms suitable for the comprehensive development of students, as well as for the design of support measures that effectively meet their specific needs.
The Observatory of Academic Paths of Students of the University of Minho (ObservatoriUM) systematically
collects and manages data on the academic paths of the students of the University of Minho and its main objectives can be described as follows:
- to identify the profiles and initial expectations of the students that enter the UMinho, taking into account the heterogeneity of their characteristics;
- to characterize the pathways of undergraduate and graduate students at the UMinho, considering the activities most directly related to the program they attend and more generally the activities of psychosocial and cultural development;
- to analyze the impact of personal, academic and contextual variables on students' trajectories, appreciating their impact on academic success, permanence, satisfaction with courses and with the institution, and employability skills;
- to provide the pedagogical coordination bodies with relevant information on the determinants of students' academic and professional success;
- to systematize relevant information for the definition of teaching and learning policies by the University and its Organic Units.
The ObservatoriUM develops its activity within the scope of the Office for the Promotion of Academic Success of the University (GPS-UMinho), in close coordination with the Academic Senate, the pedagogical councils of the Organic Units, the Student Ombudsman, the service units and the representative structures of students.
Contacts:
E-mail: gps@reitoria.uminho.pt
Phone: 253 601 191
