Creation of Azores Qualification Centre approved by Regional Parliament
Horta
Secretaria Regional da Juventude, Qualificação Profissional e Emprego
The Legislative Assembly of the Azores has approved the Regional Government's proposal to convert the Capelas Vocational School, located on São Miguel Island, into the Azores Qualification Centre (CQA). This will be a "new public response aimed at qualifying young people and adults for the labour market," stressed the Regional Secretary for Youth, Vocational Training and Employment.
According to Maria João Carreiro, the neglect, the reduction of vocational courses and the lack of connection with companies that the Capelas Vocational School has been experiencing over the last decade "is now giving way to a strategy designed to optimise vocational activities as well as to mobilise young people, the working-age population and the different production sectors."
"The neglect of Capelas Vocational School led to the loss of its purpose: to technically qualify and train young people and adults in areas such as Electronics, Electricity, Construction, Automotive Mechanics, Electricity and Carpentry, among many others. Its role will be recovered with the Azores Qualification Centre," stressed the government official.
The Azores Qualification Centre "will be based on a smart specialisation and adaptation strategy, not only to the training and skills acquisition needs of young people and the working-age population, employed or unemployed, but also to the needs of companies," she added.
Under the various components of vocational training, the Azores Qualification Centre will provide level 2 to level 5 training. It will promote a "flexible and tailored response that will favour short-term intensive training and combined training models, enabling the acquisition of experience and covering all islands, through distance learning, whenever possible."
"The Azores Qualification Centre has as its mission to train, according to the present and future needs of the labour market, qualified, critical, versatile and creative professionals with the ability to adapt to new contexts," explained the government official. In this context, she stressed that "the Azores Qualification Centre is an important opportunity for the employment of Azoreans, the recognition of occupations, and for the economy and development of the Azores."
Through the Advisory Board, the social and business partners, as well as civil society, "will be able to advise and assess the qualification policy of the Azores Qualification Centre, which should be aligned with the qualification and employment policies pursued by the Regional Government."
The Azores Qualification Centre will combine the operating capacities of the Capelas Vocational School with the Valorizar Network, which is responsible for the recognition, validation and certification of competences. This will "generate synergies in terms of facilities and logistical support, with a view to greater efficiency and effectiveness, quality and coverage of its services, ensuring an integrated response to citizens."
In strict compliance with the provisions of the Regional Legislative Decree no. 2/2023/A of January 11 transferring the supervision of Vocational Education to the Regional Secretariat for Youth, Vocational Training and Employment, the Azores Qualification Centre will become a public institute. " This change does not involve any increase in public expenditure regarding the expenditure of the recently closed Capelas Vocational School."
The refurbishment and modernisation project of the infrastructures and equipment of the new Azores Qualification Centre is funded by the Recovery and Resilience Plan, with an overall investment of eight million Euros. The works contract was awarded to the company VHM, SA. It is estimated that the works will be launched in the first quarter or beginning of the 2nd half of this year, with an estimated completion period of 18 months.
Maria João Carreiro recalled the commitment of the Regional Government to increase the qualification levels of Azoreans, through vocational training, as outlined in the Programme of the Government, the Mid-Term Guidelines and the Regional Agenda for Vocational Training. This is an "unprecedented commitment" for Vocational Education and Training, involving all vocational schools across the Region as well as public and private entities.
