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Secretaria Regional da Juventude, Habitação e Emprego
Regional Government co-hosting the 91st meeting of European Students’ Union Council from May 25 to 31 in Ponta Delgada
Regional Government co-hosting the 91st meeting of European Students’ Union Council from May 25 to 31 in Ponta Delgada
Secretaria Regional da Juventude, Habitação e Emprego
Maria João Carreiro highlights increased visibility and credibility of vocational education announcing new courses for 2026/2027
Maria João Carreiro highlights increased visibility and credibility of vocational education announcing new courses for 2026/2027
Direção Regional de Qualificação Profissional e Emprego
Regional Government brings youth, skills training and employment programmes to Azores Industry, Trade and Services Fair – FICSA
Regional Government brings youth, skills training and employment programmes to Azores Industry, Trade and Services Fair – FICSA
May 22, 2026
Regional Government co-hosting the 91st meeting of European Students’ Union Council from May 25 to 31 in Ponta Delgada
May 13, 2026
Maria João Carreiro highlights increased visibility and credibility of vocational education announcing new courses for 2026/2027
May 5, 2026
Regional Government brings youth, skills training and employment programmes to Azores Industry, Trade and Services Fair – FICSA
News
Nota de Imprensa
May 22, 2026
Regional Government co-hosting the 91st meeting of European Students’ Union Council from May 25 to 31 in Ponta Delgada
The Azores will host the 91st Board Meeting (BM91) of the European Students’ Union – an organisation representing higher education student associations from over 40 countries – bringing together more than 100 student association leaders in Ponta Delgada, São Miguel Island, from May 25 to 31. This meeting is co-organised by the Regional Secretariat for Youth, Housing and Employment, through the Regional Directorate for Youth, and by the Academic Forum for Information and External Representation (FAIRe Portugal). It will focus on the theme “The transformative power of Higher Education in the Outermost Regions.” The BM91 programme includes plenary sessions, thematic working groups, political debates and formal decision-making sessions, during which resolutions with an impact on the European higher education sector will be discussed and voted on. In parallel, capacity-building activities and the sharing of best practices will be organised, promoting the development of participants’ skills, particularly in the areas of civic participation, student representation and international cooperation. Furthermore, sessions open to the public will take place during the event, strengthening the link with the Azores and promoting a broad debate on strategic issues for regional and European development. The open sessions will take place at the Azoris Royal Garden - Leisure & Conference Hotel in Ponta Delgada. The first open session, on the theme “University of the Azores – the strategic contribution to the transformation of an Outermost Region,” will take place on Tuesday, May 26, at 10:15 a.m. Artur Lima, Vice-President of the Government of the Azores; Susana Mira Leal, Rector of the University of the Azores (UAc); Paulo do Nascimento Cabral, MEP; and João Soares, President of the Student Academic Association of the University of the Azores (UAc), will be the speakers on a panel moderated by Teresa Tiago, Professor at UAc. Also, on 26 May, the second open session will take place at 3:30 p.m. It will be dedicated to the theme “Training and Employment: attracting and retaining talent in a regional economy.” Renato Medeiros, Regional Director for Vocational Training and Employment; Artul Gil, Vice-Rector for Science, Innovation and Knowledge Transfer at UAc; Marco Lopes, President of the General Council of UAc; and Cláudia Luz, from Jolera, will be the speakers for this session, which will be moderated by Duarte Pimentel, Director of Terinov. The third session is scheduled for Thursday, May 27, at 9:30 a.m. and will focus on "Entrepreneurship and R&D: local competitive advantages in a global economy." Eládio Braga, Regional Director for Youth; Guilherme Silva, Finançor Group; Bruno Carvalho, from Space Port; Miguel Pombo, from IGNAE; and Nelson Simões, Lecturer and Researcher at UAc, will be the speakers on a panel moderated by Adriana Fumi Chim-Miki, Lecturer at UAc. The opening session, scheduled for May 26 at 9:30 a.m. at the Azoris Royal Garden, will be chaired by the Regional Secretary for Youth, Housing and Employment, Maria João Carreiro. The BM91 programme also includes visits and cultural activities on the island of São Miguel. During the meeting, the new governing body of the European Students’ Union will be elected, a crucial moment in determining the organisation’s leadership and priorities for the coming term.
May 22, 2026
Regional Government co-hosting the 91st meeting of European Students’ Union Council from May 25 to 31 in Ponta Delgada
The Azores will host the 91st Board Meeting (BM91) of the European Students’ Union – an organisation representing higher education student associations from over 40 countries – bringing together more than 100 student association leaders in Ponta Delgada, São Miguel Island, from May 25 to 31. This meeting is co-organised by the Regional Secretariat for Youth, Housing and Employment, through the Regional Directorate for Youth, and by the Academic Forum for Information and External Representation (FAIRe Portugal). It will focus on the theme “The transformative power of Higher Education in the Outermost Regions.” The BM91 programme includes plenary sessions, thematic working groups, political debates and formal decision-making sessions, during which resolutions with an impact on the European higher education sector will be discussed and voted on. In parallel, capacity-building activities and the sharing of best practices will be organised, promoting the development of participants’ skills, particularly in the areas of civic participation, student representation and international cooperation. Furthermore, sessions open to the public will take place during the event, strengthening the link with the Azores and promoting a broad debate on strategic issues for regional and European development. The open sessions will take place at the Azoris Royal Garden - Leisure & Conference Hotel in Ponta Delgada. The first open session, on the theme “University of the Azores – the strategic contribution to the transformation of an Outermost Region,” will take place on Tuesday, May 26, at 10:15 a.m. Artur Lima, Vice-President of the Government of the Azores; Susana Mira Leal, Rector of the University of the Azores (UAc); Paulo do Nascimento Cabral, MEP; and João Soares, President of the Student Academic Association of the University of the Azores (UAc), will be the speakers on a panel moderated by Teresa Tiago, Professor at UAc. Also, on 26 May, the second open session will take place at 3:30 p.m. It will be dedicated to the theme “Training and Employment: attracting and retaining talent in a regional economy.” Renato Medeiros, Regional Director for Vocational Training and Employment; Artul Gil, Vice-Rector for Science, Innovation and Knowledge Transfer at UAc; Marco Lopes, President of the General Council of UAc; and Cláudia Luz, from Jolera, will be the speakers for this session, which will be moderated by Duarte Pimentel, Director of Terinov. The third session is scheduled for Thursday, May 27, at 9:30 a.m. and will focus on "Entrepreneurship and R&D: local competitive advantages in a global economy." Eládio Braga, Regional Director for Youth; Guilherme Silva, Finançor Group; Bruno Carvalho, from Space Port; Miguel Pombo, from IGNAE; and Nelson Simões, Lecturer and Researcher at UAc, will be the speakers on a panel moderated by Adriana Fumi Chim-Miki, Lecturer at UAc. The opening session, scheduled for May 26 at 9:30 a.m. at the Azoris Royal Garden, will be chaired by the Regional Secretary for Youth, Housing and Employment, Maria João Carreiro. The BM91 programme also includes visits and cultural activities on the island of São Miguel. During the meeting, the new governing body of the European Students’ Union will be elected, a crucial moment in determining the organisation’s leadership and priorities for the coming term.
Nota de Imprensa
May 13, 2026
Maria João Carreiro highlights increased visibility and credibility of vocational education announcing new courses for 2026/2027
The Regional Secretary for Youth, Housing and Employment, Maria João Carreiro, announced this Tuesday in Ponta Delgada that 58 new Level 4 vocational courses will be available at Azorean vocational schools for the 2026/2027 school year. With these 58 new courses, spanning 21 vocational fields, vocational schools will offer more than 1,000 vacancies for young people who choose to pursue vocational studies with dual certification – academic and professional. Maria João Carreiro spoke at the Azores Industry, Trade and Services Fair – FICSA, where the “Your First Choice – Lab – Discovering careers” sessions are taking place. She was accompanied by the Regional Director for Vocational Training and Employment, Renato Medeiros, the President of the Board of AEPA – Association of Vocational Schools of the Azores, João Moniz, and the Vice-President of ANESPO – National Association of Vocational Schools, Domingos Borges. “More than the number of courses or vacancies, it is important to highlight the diversity of the training provision, which reflects an effort on the part of vocational schools to tailor their courses to the needs of businesses and the interests of young people,” she said. The Regional Secretary emphasised that education in vocational schools is now an option “increasingly valued by young people, families and businesses,” which is why “education in vocational schools now enjoys greater visibility and credibility.” On the occasion, the government official noted that the “Your First Choice” campaign is already underway, featuring street and digital (social media) advertising. The campaign has been run annually by the Government of the Azores since 2023 to raise awareness among young people and families about the opportunities and benefits of vocational education, whereby young people can enter the labour market directly or pursue higher education. This year, the focus of the campaign, which complements the communication efforts of schools and their training programmes, lies in diversifying the range of training areas within Level 4 courses, enhancing the status of occupations, and raising awareness among young people of the importance of skills in becoming good professionals. “A trained electrician will undoubtedly be a more well-rounded electrician with greater scope for development than one without training. The same applies to all occupations. Our companies need more young people with the skills, know-how, confidence and independence that vocational education fosters,” she noted. The “Your First Choice Lab – Discovering careers” sessions are taking place at FICSA, featuring daily, live and interactive demonstrations of careers and professional fields led by vocational training students. The sessions end tomorrow, Thursday, May 14. During these sessions, organised by the Regional Government in close cooperation with vocational schools, young people have the opportunity not only to see first-hand how one works or what is learnt in a particular occupation, identifying areas of interest that they would often not discover through theory alone, but also to ask trainees and instructors questions about the training paths for each vocational course. Maria João Carreiro also congratulated the regional Vocational Schools for their willingness to coordinate the provision of training courses for the 2026/2027 school year. This is a joint, open and ongoing collaboration with the Regional Government that benefits young people, families and the economy, reinforcing the role of vocational education as a path that is increasingly becoming the first choice for even more Azorean young people.
May 13, 2026
Maria João Carreiro highlights increased visibility and credibility of vocational education announcing new courses for 2026/2027
The Regional Secretary for Youth, Housing and Employment, Maria João Carreiro, announced this Tuesday in Ponta Delgada that 58 new Level 4 vocational courses will be available at Azorean vocational schools for the 2026/2027 school year. With these 58 new courses, spanning 21 vocational fields, vocational schools will offer more than 1,000 vacancies for young people who choose to pursue vocational studies with dual certification – academic and professional. Maria João Carreiro spoke at the Azores Industry, Trade and Services Fair – FICSA, where the “Your First Choice – Lab – Discovering careers” sessions are taking place. She was accompanied by the Regional Director for Vocational Training and Employment, Renato Medeiros, the President of the Board of AEPA – Association of Vocational Schools of the Azores, João Moniz, and the Vice-President of ANESPO – National Association of Vocational Schools, Domingos Borges. “More than the number of courses or vacancies, it is important to highlight the diversity of the training provision, which reflects an effort on the part of vocational schools to tailor their courses to the needs of businesses and the interests of young people,” she said. The Regional Secretary emphasised that education in vocational schools is now an option “increasingly valued by young people, families and businesses,” which is why “education in vocational schools now enjoys greater visibility and credibility.” On the occasion, the government official noted that the “Your First Choice” campaign is already underway, featuring street and digital (social media) advertising. The campaign has been run annually by the Government of the Azores since 2023 to raise awareness among young people and families about the opportunities and benefits of vocational education, whereby young people can enter the labour market directly or pursue higher education. This year, the focus of the campaign, which complements the communication efforts of schools and their training programmes, lies in diversifying the range of training areas within Level 4 courses, enhancing the status of occupations, and raising awareness among young people of the importance of skills in becoming good professionals. “A trained electrician will undoubtedly be a more well-rounded electrician with greater scope for development than one without training. The same applies to all occupations. Our companies need more young people with the skills, know-how, confidence and independence that vocational education fosters,” she noted. The “Your First Choice Lab – Discovering careers” sessions are taking place at FICSA, featuring daily, live and interactive demonstrations of careers and professional fields led by vocational training students. The sessions end tomorrow, Thursday, May 14. During these sessions, organised by the Regional Government in close cooperation with vocational schools, young people have the opportunity not only to see first-hand how one works or what is learnt in a particular occupation, identifying areas of interest that they would often not discover through theory alone, but also to ask trainees and instructors questions about the training paths for each vocational course. Maria João Carreiro also congratulated the regional Vocational Schools for their willingness to coordinate the provision of training courses for the 2026/2027 school year. This is a joint, open and ongoing collaboration with the Regional Government that benefits young people, families and the economy, reinforcing the role of vocational education as a path that is increasingly becoming the first choice for even more Azorean young people.
