presenciais

Presenciais is the adjective used to describe activities or participation that occur with the physical presence of people at a location, as opposed to remote or online modalities. In Portuguese-speaking contexts, presential is widely used in education, work and services to indicate that interaction happens on-site. Common collocations include aulas presenciais, atendimentos presenciais, reuniões presenciais and eventos presenciais.

In education, aulas presenciais refer to in-person instruction conducted at a school or campus, with students and teachers sharing a physical space. Educational programs may combine presença components with online elements (hybrid or semi-presenciais) or be fully à distância. In professional and public-service settings, atendimentos presenciais denote services delivered face-to-face, at counters or offices, enabling direct interaction.

The concept gained renewed attention during the COVID-19 pandemic, when many institutions temporarily shifted to online formats. Since then hybrid models blending presencial and remote components have become common, aiming to preserve access and safety while maintaining interaction. Some policies set requirements or preferences for presencial participation.

Advantages of presencial activity often cited include direct social interaction, hands-on learning, immediate feedback, and access to facilities; drawbacks include travel costs, mobility issues, health risks, and disparities in access to technology enabling remote options.

Presencialidade is discussed in terms of attendance and participation metrics, and the term presencial is used in both Portugal and Brazil to distinguish on-site participation from online alternatives.