This article investigates the impact of the pandemic on Brazilian and Portuguese students from technical and university schools. A study by questionnaire, complemented by qualitative interpretation of data, was carried out to meet three objectives: to evaluate the impact of COVID-19 on the sudents’ behavior; to clarify students’preparation at the start of the pandemic; to understand how they evaluate the changes forced by the pandemic. The results confirm the hypotheses: students’ behavior does not derive only from the negative emotional impact of COVID-19 but includes also positive motivational factors, such as the students’ degree of confidence and daily life reorientation. The authors recommend the adoption of educational innovative processes already being used, and future innovations, including artificial intelligence systems.

The authors would like to thank the following Professors who provided help during the questionnaire elaborationa and diffusion: Rui Moura (CIPES-ULHT, Portugal), Ricardo Mergulhão (UFSCar, São Carlos, Brazil), José Antonio Santos (Algarve University)

COVID-19 pandemic,pshychological impacts,social impacts,higher education

• Other Natural Sciences - Natural Sciences
• Psychology - Social Sciences
• Educational Sciences - Social Sciences
• Sociology - Social Sciences
• Other Social Sciences - Social Sciences