Future Time Perspective: preliminary applications and reflections on research in higher education

This article discusses a quite unexplored theory on the issues of motivation in educational contexts: the Future Time Perspective. Based on the contributions of Joseph Nuttin, Willy Lens and others researchers, the main concepts underlying the contemporary notion of future perspective are explained. Later, the presented concepts are related to a preliminary investigation conducted with college students. This research is supported in a quantitative method approach, having a descriptive/explorative character. It aims verifying the relationship between the degree of importance assigned to different areas of study during the academic path with the future perspective related to professional performance. The results, while revealing themselves partially coherent with the presented theory, afford reflections on the importance given to the use of this theoretical perspective in inquires relating to higher education.