Full Professor of Sociology of Education and Educational Administration at the Department of Social Sciences of Education, Institute of Education of UMinho. Head of the Unit for Adult Education (1984-2004), Director of the Research Centre for Education and Psychology (1994-1997), Head of Department (1998-2004) and Director of the PhD in Education (2011-2013). Guest professor in various universities in Europe, Africa, Asia and Latin America. Author of academic works published in nineteen countries and seven languages, including more than thirty books.