Azorean Vocational Schools welcome over 920 new students - Communication

Secretaria Regional da Juventude, Habitação e Emprego

Azorean Vocational Schools are beginning the 2026/2027 school year with 927 new students enrolled in the first year of 49 Level 4 vocational courses, an increase of 41 students compared with the 2025/2026 school year and 193 students compared with the 2020/2021 school year.

This growth is a “sign of confidence” on the part of young people, parents and guardians in this dual-certification educational pathway – combining academic and vocational qualifications – which is increasingly recognised as a “choice of value, quality and with a future,” as highlighted by the Regional Secretary for Youth, Housing and Employment.

“Vocational education is establishing itself through a modern, high-quality curriculum that is aligned with the challenges of the labour world. This means that young people today see this educational pathway as a safe option for enhancing their qualifications to enter the labour market, without closing the door on the possibility of continuing their studies,” explained Maria João Carreiro.

Vocational education values what each young person is capable of doing and enhances their abilities to build a life plan with autonomy and confidence; for this reason, public investment in vocational education represents “a commitment to vocations and the essential skills needed to create opportunities for businesses and the economy.”

As such, the government official praised the efforts of regional Vocational Schools to tailor their training programmes to young people’s interests and businesses' needs, anticipating recruitment needs and preparing young people for the occupations of the future and the new demands of the labour market.

“This approach does not mean limiting young people’s choices to the immediate needs of businesses, but rather helping them to find a balance between what they enjoy, what they are good at, and the career opportunities that exist or may arise in the Region, bringing their aspirations into line with real opportunities,” she advocated.

The Regional Secretary also reiterated the Government's commitment to continuing the work carried out in partnership with vocational schools to enhance the status of vocational education, as part of the Regional Agenda for Vocational Training.

The Regional Directorate for Vocational Training and Employment has invested over €2.5 million via the Recovery and Resilience Plan (RRP) and the Regional Budget to modernise facilities supporting high-quality practical training and create motivating learning environments in each vocational school in the Azores.

This year, the “Your First Choice” campaign – organised annually by the Regional Government to raise awareness amongst young people about the training opportunities provided by vocational schools – featured students enrolled in various vocational courses, covering areas such as construction, electricity and electrical systems, agriculture and livestock farming, maritime studies, tourism, IT and management.

This campaign also included “Your First Choice Lab – Discovering careers,” an initiative integrated into FICSA 2026, held last May in Ponta Delgada. It featured live interactive demonstrations of various occupations, promoting direct communication with school-age young people about the different professional fields and helping them make more informed decisions.

From November 2 to 6, the 26th Regional Skills Championship – Azores Skills will take place at the Azores Training Centre in Ponta Delgada on the island of São Miguel. This event celebrates talent, skills and vocational training.