Upskilling / Reskilling in the Tourism Sector in Portugal

Portugal's Vocational Education and Training System

The information in this topic is based on the website: https://www.anqep.gov.pt/np4EN/53.html.

In Portugal, there are several double certification paths (awarding a school and a professional certification), aimed at young people, to complete basic education (9^th year of schooling) and upper-secondary education (12^th year of schooling). These paths are associated with a more practical learning experience related to a profession, and which enable to continue learning or to integrate the labor market. These include Professional Courses (PC), Education and Training Courses (ETC) for young people, Specialised Artistic Courses (SAC) and Technological Specialisation Courses (TSC).

ANQEP - National Agency for Qualification and Vocational Education and Training

ANQEP- National Agency for Qualification and Vocational Education and Training- is a public institute, with the mission to "contribute to the improvement of the qualification levels of young people and adults in Portugal, promoting both a growing demand for school and professional qualifications (double certification) at the non-tertiary level, as well as an offer of initial and lifelong training that is broadly attractive, of quality and relevant to the labour market".

ANQEP has oversight and joint supervision of the Ministries of Education, and of Labour, Solidarity and Social Security, in coordination with the Ministry of Economy and Maritime Affairs.

National Qualifications System

The courses are run by public or private organizations belonging to the National Qualifications System. They promote qualifications, training and learning for personal development, as well as the educational and professional progression of citizens. The network of entities includes the Qualifica Centers, schools, IEFP vocational training centers and training entities certified by DGERT.

The entities that belong to the National Qualifications System and offer professional and qualification courses are:

• Qualifica Centres - specialized adult qualification centers which aim to promote lifelong learning and improve the educational and professional qualifications of the population, valuing each person's individual pathways;
• Schools - a network of public and private educational establishments, including primary and secondary schools, vocational schools and private and cooperative educational establishments. This network of schools offers vocational courses, youth education and training courses, adult education and training courses and certified modular training courses;
• IEFP Vocational Training Centres - A network of training centers directly managed by the Instituto do Emprego e Formação Profissional, I.P., which offers apprenticeship courses, technological specialization courses, adult education and training courses and certified modular training courses;
• Training Entities Certified by DGERT - These entities can develop adult education and training courses and certified modular training courses.

Implementation Structure

The implementation of qualification offers is carried out by a technical-pedagogical team, which is made up of: teachers; trainers; Vocational Aptitude Test Advisor; Artistic Aptitude Test Advisor; Workplace Training Advisor; Workplace Training Tutor; Course Director; Pedagogical Advisor; Qualifica Center Coordinator; Skills Guidance, Recognition and Validation Technician.

National Qualifications Framework

The national qualifications system (SNQ) was created in 2007 with the aim of raising the qualification levels of the working population, through school and professional progression, as well as structuring an initial and continuing education and training offer for young people and adults. Within this framework, structuring instruments were created for the organization of qualifications and the capitalization of qualification paths, such as the National Qualifications Framework (QNQ), the National Qualifications Catalogue (CNQ), as well as the National Credit System for Vocational Education and Training (SNC) and the Qualifica Passport, in order to ensure the relevance of learning for personal development and for the modernization of companies and the economy.

• National Qualifications Framework (NQF): unique reference framework for classifying all qualifications produced in the national education and training system, regardless of the access pathways. The national qualification framework is structured into 8 qualification levels (Anqep, 2024):

Qualification levels (Anqep, 2024)

Double Certification Paths for Young People (15-23 years)

Double certification paths aimed at young people (15-23 years)- https://www.anqep.gov.pt/np4EN/jovens/

There are several double certification paths aimed at young people, to complete basic education (9th year of schooling) and upper-secondary education (12th year of schooling), through a more practical learning experience associated with a profession, and which enables them to continue learning or to integrate the labor market. These include:

• Professional Courses (PC);
  • An upper-secondary education path with double certification, that allows the development of social, scientific and vocational skills necessary for the exercise of a professional activity. Simultaneously, the upper-secondary level of education is obtained. These courses prepare young people for an easier and more qualified integration in the labour market and enable them to carry out studies at post-secondary level, as well as higher education. The courses have a duration of three years, with a workload between 3100 to 3440 hours. They are organized into four training components:
    • Sociocultural training: to contribute to the construction of students' personal, social and cultural identity;
    • Scientific Training: to provide scientific training consistent with the qualification to be acquired;
    • Technological Training: organised into Short-Term Training Units (STTU), aimed at acquiring and developing a set of technical skills necessary for professional activity;
    • Work-based learning: carried out in companies or other organisations, during periods of variable duration throughout or at the end of the training.

  These courses culminate with a presentation and defence of a project before a jury, called the Professional Aptitude Test (PAT), in which the skills and knowledge developed during the training are demonstrated.

  • These courses are aimed at those who have concluded the 9^thyear of schooling or equivalent training;
  • Certification: students obtain a double certification - upper-secondary education and a professional certification - conferring level 4 qualification of the National Qualifications Framework
• Education and Training Courses (ETC) for young people;
  • Basic education path with double certification. In other words, social, scientific and vocational skills, necessary for the exercise of a professional activity, are developed, whilst, simultaneously, the basic level of education is obtained. The courses have a duration of two years and are divided into four training components: Sociocultural Training; Scientific Training; Technological Training; Work-based learning.
  • Education and Training Courses may be the most suitable for those who have concluded the 2nd cycle of basic education and are 15 years of age or older.
  • At the end of the course, students obtain a double certification – basic education and a professional certification - conferring level 2 qualification of the National Qualifications Framework.
• Specialised Artistic Courses (SAC);
• Technological Specialisation Courses (TSC).

Double Certification Paths for Adult Learners (23-66 years)

Double certification paths aimed at adult learners (23-66 years)- https://www.anqep.gov.pt/np4EN/adultos/

There are several qualification paths that, throughout life, enable the obtainment of a school certification at basic level (4^th, 6^th or 9^th year of schooling) or at upper-secondary level (12^th year of schooling) and/or a professional certification:

• Recognition, Validation and Certification of Competences:
  • Processes through which an adult demonstrates the skills acquired and developed throughout life through formal, non-formal and informal learning, which are subject to validation and certification for the purpose of obtaining a qualification. Completion of this enables the obtainment of a basic education certification (4^th, 6^thor 9^th year of schooling) or an upper-secondary education certification (12^th year of schooling). The validation process is carried out at Qualifica Centres.
• Adult Education and Training Courses:
  • Flexible training paths, of variable duration, specifically aimed at adults, which enable the development of social, scientific and professional skills necessary for the exercise of a professional activity, whilst simultaneously the basic or upper-secondary level of education is obtained. These courses are organised into different types of training paths: basic education, upper-secondary education, double certification or paths related to the development of professional competences. The curriculum of these courses include: Basic Training; Technological Training; Work-based learning.
  • Adult Education and Training Courses may be the path indicated for those who are 18 years of age or older.
  • Completion of an Adult Education and Training Course enables the obtainment of a basic education certification (4^th, 6^thor 9^th year of schooling) or an upper-secondary education certification (12^th year of schooling).
• Certified modular training
  • Organised into Short-Term Training Units (STTU) or Competence Units (CU) in order to promote access to qualifications through flexible and modularised paths. Certified Modular Training can also be developed based on the short and medium-term paths, previously organized and independently certified, available in the National Catalogue of Qualifications. It is aimed at adults aged 18 or over. Certified modular training permits to obtain one or more than one qualification of level 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 of the National Qualifications Framework which are integrated in the National Catalogue of Qualifications.
• Upper-Secondary Education Completion Paths:
  • Created for those who attended upper-secondary education training paths, developed under extinguished study plans, without having completed them. These paths enable the candidate to complete upper-secondary education, through examinations or attendance of Short-Term Training Units, if they lack up to six subjects/year (which can be distributed across all the school years of the study cycle or concentrated in a single year).
  • It is aimed at adults aged 18 or over. The certification obtained through Upper-Secondary Education Completion Paths corresponds to the 12^thyear of schooling and confers level 3 or 4 qualification of the National Qualifications Framework
• Assessment and Certification Commission
  • Entity to be mobilized whenever an adult has an incomplete qualification path, with partial certifications obtained in more than one education and training pathways or through the process of recognition, validation and certification of competences.
  • Adults aged 18 and over with incomplete qualification pathways.
  • Through the Assessment and Certification Commission, a basic level school certification (4^th, 6^thor 9^th year of schooling) or an upper-secondary level school certification (12^th year of schooling), a professional certification or both (in this case, it it called double certification) can be obtained, conferring level 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 qualification of the National Qualifications Framework.
• Recognition of Foreign Qualifications.