A total of 873 new students will start the new academic year 2025/2026 at the Azores Vocational Schools, enrolled in 51 new Level IV vocational courses, the Regional Secretary for Youth, Housing, and Employment announced yesterday. According to Maria João Carreiro, there are 139 more new students than the total number of young people [734] who enrolled in a vocational school in the 2020/2021 academic year and 13 more new courses compared to the total number of courses approved [38] in that same academic year, which coincides with the beginning of the PSD/CDS-PP/PPM coalition government.

During her visit to the Professional School of the Ponta Delgada Chamber of Commerce and Industry (EPCCIPD) in São Miguel to mark the start of the academic year in the region’s professional schools, the minister highlighted the good results, despite a decrease of more than 1,000 students in public schools this academic year. “Vocational education in vocational schools today generates more confidence among young people, parents, and guardians, which leads to greater mobilization and enrollment,” she noted. Among the training areas with the most enrollments are Hospitality and Catering, Child and Youth Support Services, Tourism and Leisure, Agricultural and Animal Production, and Health, in which 54% of the trainees who are now beginning their training cycle are enrolled. Maria João Carreiro therefore praised the efforts of schools to align their training offer with the interests of young people and the needs of companies, stressing that “we now have more offer and more enrollments in areas that create jobs in the Region.”

For the Regional Secretary, “the growing appreciation of the benefits of a vocational education pathway focused on training and the success of graduates leads us to view the present and future of vocational education in the Azores with optimism,” in which €2.9 million has been invested through the PRR to modernize equipment. In this regard, the government official reaffirmed the Azorean Executive’s commitment to “maximize the achievements of the last four years,” as part of the Regional Agenda for Professional Qualification, “making the advantages of this type of education, which provides academic and professional certification, even clearer to young people and companies.”

“Vocational schools are associated with an image of quality and value in the training paths of young people, which we are interested in promoting,” she noted, praising this year’s edition of the “Your First Choice” campaign, which featured medal-winning trainees from Skills Portugal – National Professional Championships in 2024, in which the region won 18 medals, including seven gold medals. At the start of this academic year, the Regional Secretary challenged graduates and trainers from vocational schools to join programs such as MOOV – Mobility, Occupation, and Vocational Guidance Program or Entrepreneurial Academy – School of Leaders, for the opportunities for personal and curricular enhancement they offer participants. The head of the Professional Qualification portfolio also called for significant and committed participation by vocational schools in next year’s Regional Professional Championship, which is the qualifying stage for Skills Portugal.

During her visit to EPCCIPD, Maria João Carreiro was accompanied by the Regional Director of Professional Qualification and Employment, Renato Medeiros, and was received by the President of the Ponta Delgada Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Gualter Couto, the Vice-Presidents, Paula Stone and Sandra Moniz, and the Director-General of EPCCIPD, Francisco Gil. This year, EPCCIPD opened two new Level IV courses: Management Support Technician and Environmental and Rural Tourism Technician, which have 48 new students joining the 2nd-year Travel Agency Technician and Digital Communication Technician courses, as well as the 3rd-year Sales Technician course. Training tailored to the needs of the member companies of the Ponta Delgada Chamber of Commerce and Industry, as well as the internationalization of its training offer, has been a focus of EPCCIPD. With a record number of trainees, 90 in total, EPCCIPD has become a benchmark in the education and vocational training system in the Azores.

In Diário dos Açores-Paulo Viveiros, director

Translated into English as a community outreach program by the Portuguese Beyond Borders Institute (PBBI) and the Modern and Classical Languages and Literatures Department (MCLL), in collaboration with Bruma Publication and ADMA (Azores-Diaspora Media Alliance) at California State University, Fresno. PBBI thanks Luso Financial for sponsoring NOVIDADES.