Technical training and courses expanded in Bragança, Portugal

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With the higher education technical courses, we train professionals in a very applied way, with a firm connection to actual companies and their needs and problems.Orlando Rodrigues, President of Polytechnic Institute of BragançaThe two-year courses focus on the needs of the labour market and those of companies, which substantially improves the chances of employment for students after graduation. In doing so, the project is closing the gap between the country’s educational offer and employment needs.Since its launch in 2015, around 71 % of enlisted students have successfully graduated. Within six months after completion of the course, 65 % of the students had either found employment or started a new study course.A wide range of subjectsDepending on the subject, the 44 technical courses are being offered by the institute’s main high school departments: agriculture, education, technology and management, communication, administration and tourism, and health. In these departments, students can choose from a range of industries which each feature a variety of courses.For example, at the technology and management department, students can enlist for courses in automation, robotics and industrial electronics, civil construction, chemical and biological analysis. In the agriculture department, options range from veterinary care and forest protection to environmental education and agricultural production. The department of communication, administration and tourism offers courses in accounting, tourism and cultural promotion, and viticulture and oenology.Certified and qualified courses at European levelEvery course consists of 120 European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System (ECTS) credits that need to be obtained over two years. The course programmes feature general and scientific training, technical and practical training. Students who qualify and successfully graduate obtain a diploma of higher professional technician.The courses are classified at level 5 in the European Qualifications Framework, the National Qualifications Framework and the International Standardised Classification of Education.With the help of the ERDF, the Polytechnic Institute of Bragança acquired new equipment and adjusted classrooms, laboratories and workshops throughout its facilities to the specific requirements of the courses, due to their technical nature. The EU funds helped cover the cost of the teachers and trainers.Total investment and EU fundingTotal investment for the project “Cursos TesP” is EUR 10 000 000, with the EU’s European Regional Development Fund contributing EUR 8 000 000 through the “NORTE 2020 – Portugal Norte Region” Operational Programme for the 2014-2020 programming period. The investment falls under the priority “Jobs, growth and investment”.