The results of the first phase of the National Access Competition to Higher Education have once again revealed a persistent inequality in Portugal. Geography continues to be a determining factor in students' choices, significantly influencing their decisions about where to apply. When the placement process ends, it is mainly the higher education institutions located in the Interior of the country that have unfilled vacancies, showing an imbalance between supply and demand.
This situation is not new, but it continues to represent a significant challenge for the Portuguese higher education system. The article suggests that, where there are surplus vacancies in Interior institutions, there is a lack of effective policies to attract students and bridge this regional disparity. This geographical inequality affects young people's opportunities and perpetuates a cycle of depopulation in the less developed areas of the country.
