Entering higher education and the reality of the job market are sometimes different. The aim was to analyze the learning activities and perceptions of literacy among 1st cycle higher education students from public and private Portuguese institutions. One of the main objectives was to gather information and analyze learning activities and perceptions of literacy, namely perceptions of functional literacy, as well as specificities of new information technologies and adult learning. The main differences between Andragogy and Pedagogy, the dimensions of literacy, qualification, competence and competency are addressed, as are the main learning theories (behaviorist, constructivist, cognitive-structuralist, social learning, sociocultural and Rogerian theory), and the main authors such as Bandura, Piaget, Watson, Vygostsky, Rogers). With the ease of access to information, it is important to develop premises that lead to valuing the individual, as soon as the development of skills, abilities and behaviors is strengthened. In this way, they can become drivers of development in and for companies/organizations.