Nicolau, Paula BacelarCaeiro, SandraMartinho, Ana PaulaAzeiteiro, Ulisses2015-01-222015-01-222015Nicolau, Paula Bacelar [et al.] - Attitudes, barriers and motivators as factors for sustainability of higher education e-learning programmes at Universidade Aberta, Portugal. In Leal Filho, Walter [et al.], ed. - "Integrative approaches to sustainable development at university level [Em linha] : making the links". [S.l.] : Springer Verlag, 2015. ISBN 978-3-319-10689-2. p. 567-582978-3-319-10689-2http://hdl.handle.net/10400.2/3621In higher education distance learning institutions, where studies are carried on through a variety of distance learning regimes, from the correspondence and earlier forms of distance education to fully online e-learning programmes, and where planners and administrators seize the effective adoption and deployment of technology-enabled education, student attitude and motivation assume considerable significance. Attitudinal pre-dispositions, institutional and allied barriers (including appropriate policy initiatives), besides the scientific and pedagogical quality of degree programmes are assumed to play a crucial role in sustainability of higher education systems. This article reports the findings of a study conducted at Universidade Aberta, Portugal—the Portuguese Distance Learning Education University—to examine student attitudes towards e-learning and to identify barriers and motivators of e-learning adoption, which are key factors for decreasing dropout rates of a 2nd cycle degree e-learning programme, analysed as a case study.engHigher educationDistance learningBarriers and motivatorsDropout ratesSustainabilitybook part10.1007/978-3-319-10690-8_39