by Cândido Manuel Varela de Freitas
Spring 2002
Armando Rocha Trindade, Robert de
Kieffer International Award Winner 2002
Armando Rocha Trindade defines himself
as having benefited from his initial training as an Electronics
Engineer, gaining from it a realistic and pragmatic approach to
problems; from his PhD in Physics, that taught him the value of
rigorous scientific research; and from his work in the distance
education field, that showed him the need for careful planning
and, last but not the least, of painstaking and delicate political
negotiations — if you really want to achieve something of
value…
I met him almost two months ago the
AECTConference in Dallas, where he was awarded with the Robert
de Kieffer International Award. We had the following conversation.
Prof. Armando Trindade, when have
you became interested in distance education?
I became interested in Distance Education
in the mid-70’s, while I was Director General of Higher
Education in Portugal, and took notice of an extensive report
on this subject, written by you, among other persons. This interest
matured until 1978, when I proposed to the government the creation
of an Open University in Portugal. Then, I was put in charge of
the corresponding project, which was ready by 1984; but that faced
a strong opposition by the whole set of Portuguese conventional
Universities — and so it was put into a limbo…
Yes, I remember that. But
you did not give up …
Of course not! My reaction was becoming
very active in the international scene, being one of the promoters
and founders of the European Association of Distance Teaching
Universities, which constitutive meeting took place in Lisbon
in 1987. Due to the not so discreet pressure of this Organization,
the Government finally gave the green light to the foundation
of the Universidade Aberta (Open University, in Portuguese) in
1988. I was appointed as its first President.
Your fight reached the objectives…
This shows how using the strength of
an international lobby is sometimes the only way of removing internal
difficulties… Anyway, I have been working on distance
education ever since and a large part of my work was dedicated
to promoting distance education wherever it would be needed, mainly
during my mandate as President of the International Council for
Open and Distance Education (ICDE). I got elected to that position,
against most expectations, by simply writing to all member institutions
and asking them to analyse my candidature Manifesto and to suggest
possible improvements — while offering to visit them, should
they find it useful. Ypu know, I visited close to 30 institutions
in the next 6 months, in every continent. The most awkward invitation
came from New Zealand (this country being exactly at the antipode
point in respect to Portugal). I spent there just three days and
got their clear support. I believe that they never thought I would
come so far to visit them…
Your international experience is
amazing, and as you know this feature is highly recognized in
Portugal…
I think so, but not only in Portugal…
It had been recognized by the State University of New York and
by the British Open University, both having awarded a Doctorate
Honoris Causa. Other universities in China and Russia, the French
Government and some European Networks also did, through different
kinds of distinctions. The award now received is a most welcome
one, meaning quite a lot to me as it comes from a very prestigious
Organization.
You deserved the distinction. What
are you doing now?
Having finished my two mandates as
President of the Universidade Aberta, I retired from this position.
I am now writing extensively, making lectures and seminars and
using interesting opportunities of working abroad for short periods
as expert consultant, of which I have done quite a lot.
Thank you very much, I am very
pleased for the international recognition you got from the AECT
which honored you but also Portugal.
