The existence of higher education institutions (HEIs), dispersed in different locations throughout the country, is probably one of the most striking features associated with the expansion of this level of education in Portugal in the last 40 years. This phenomenon is particularly relevant since...

"While decentralization of education in DMCs has largely been driven by fiscal constraints, it has also been motivated by concerns about the effectiveness of a centralized system in delivering education services. The statistics are revealing: while virtually all DMCs have made impressive gains...