4-day week is accepted by most Porto academia

The majority (80%) of students at the Porto academy accept the four-day week in higher education because it promotes greater “motivation, concentration, mental health and management of personal and academic life”, a survey concluded.

A survey by the Porto Academic Federation (FAP), conducted between May 28 and June 30, with 1,824 valid responses, reveals that “80% of Porto academy students identify benefits, namely increased motivation, concentration, mental health, better management between personal, family and academic life” with the introduction of the four-day week in higher education.

"Seven out of ten students surveyed report feeling more motivated, with more energy and a greater ability to balance studies with family life, when considering the possibility of a four-day week in higher education," reads the document, which Lusa had access to this Tuesday.

Regarding the ability to concentrate and quality of sleep, aspects that are interconnected, six out of ten students surveyed considered that this measure of four days a week in higher education "would be very positive."

In the area of mental health, the impact would be equally noticeable.

More than half of students believe that a four-day week can help “reduce stress, anxiety, and symptoms of depression.”

The survey focused on aspects related to health, family balance and willingness to carry out daily activities.

The president of FAP warns, however, that the four-day week cannot mean concentrating 21 hours of classes on those days.

"We propose a new paradigm that combines reduced workload with pedagogical innovation, through the implementation of more appropriate teaching and assessment methods."

In May, in an interview with Lusa, the president of the FAP warned that the FAP would ask the next Portuguese government to move forward with the pilot implementation of the four-day week in higher education in Porto, arguing that the shorter week would be an "inevitability".

FAP advocates for a four-day week for the next academic year and sent an open letter this Tuesday to the directors and presidents of the organic units of Porto's Higher Education Institutions calling for the implementation of a four-day academic week for the next academic year.

The request comes following a survey carried out by FAP, in collaboration with the Institute of Sociology of the University of Porto, the results of which reveal that 80% of students at the Porto academy identify benefits.

In addition to a better balance between personal and academic life, reducing workload would help reduce time spent commuting and alleviate the student housing crisis.

The survey included students with an average age of 20.9 years and 68% are attending undergraduate courses, where the workload tends to be higher.

Sixty percent (60%) of respondents are enrolled at the University of Porto, 30% at the Polytechnic Institute of Porto, 4% at the School of Nursing and the remaining 6% attend Private or Cooperative Higher Education institutions.

"Portugal is among the European countries with the highest classroom hours. On average, Portuguese students have 21 more hours of classroom activities than those in Germany, the United Kingdom, or Italy, and twice as many as those in Sweden," argues the FAP president.

According to Francisco Fernandes, a full-time undergraduate student, he dedicates “46 hours a week to academic activities, including classes, studying, and assessments.”