Armando Rocha Trindade

Não quereria que a Memória se tornasse num obituário, mas por definição cabe neste blog lembrar: neste caso, lembrar alguém que conheci vai para quarenta anos e com quem tive relações frequentes, embora não com muita intimidade.

O falecimento de Rocha Trindade não foi uma surpresa, pois sabia-o a lutar contra a doença há já alguns anos. Em 2002 propus o seu nome para um galardão instuituído pela AECT (Association for Educational Communications and Technology), o Robert de Kieffer International Award, que lhe foi concedido, tendo em consideração o seu contributo na área, e recordo que, num almoço preparatório da viagem até Dallas, ele me ter confidenciado os seus receios.

O meu primeiro encontro com Rocha Trindade não foi muito auspicioso... Numa sessão em que se discutia a educação, isto em 1976, pouco antes da formação do primeiro governo constitucional, divergimos nalguns pontos cruciais e discutimo-los com firmeza. Na altura eu estava no GEP, ele, pouco tempo depois, foi nomeado Director-geral do Ensino Superior. Em virtude da minha ida para a Universidade do Minho, e depois na ESE de Faro, tive ocasião de me reencontrar com ele e âpreciar as suas qualidades. Era um organizador nato, um batalhador incansável. A batalha pela criação da Universidade Aberta, de que foi primeiro Reitor, durou mais de dez anos, tendo de lutar contra a desconfiança das outras universidades e mesmo dos poderes constituídos...

Quando regressei à Universidade do Minho tive ocasião de contactar em mais ocasiões com ele, sobretudo a propósito das conferências Challenges, nas quais foi um assíduo participante, tendo em algumas vezes feito intervenções de grande qualidade. Em sua memória, e porque será muito pouco conhecida em Portugal, publico seguidamente uma entrevista que lhe foi feita por mim para ser publicada na edição on-line da newsletter da International Division da AECT, a qual, infelizmente, jã não está disponível.

Interview

Armando Rocha Trindade defines himself as someone who 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 after he received the Robert de Kieffer International Award. We had the following conversation.

C. – Prof. Armando Trindade, when have you became interested in distance education?

Armando Trindade – 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…

C. – Yes, I remember that. But you did not give up …

Armando Trindade – 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.

C. – Your fight reached the objectives…

Armando Trindade - 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…

C. – Your international experience is amazing, and as you know this feature is highly recognized in Portugal…

Armando Trindade – 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.

C. – You deserved the distinction. What are you doing now?

Armando Trindade - 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.

C. – Thank you very much, I am very pleased for the international recognition you got from the AECT which honored not only you but also Portugal.