Over 870 students enrol in Azorean vocational schools
Ponta Delgada
Secretaria Regional da Juventude, Habitação e Emprego
873 new students are beginning the 2025/2026 school year at Azorean Vocational Schools, enrolled in 51 new Level IV vocational courses, according to an announcement made today by the Regional Secretary for Youth, Housing and Employment.
According to Maria João Carreiro, there are 139 more new graduates compared to the overall number of young people [734] who enrolled in a vocational school in the 2020/2021 school year. Additionally, there are 13 more new courses than the total number of courses approved [38] in that same school year, which coincides with the beginning of the PSD/CDS-PP/PPM coalition government.
The government official visited today the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Ponta Delgada Vocational School (EPCCIPD) in São Miguel to mark the beginning of the school year at regional professional schools. The government official highlighted the good results, despite a decrease of more than 1,000 students in public schools this school year.
"Vocational education in vocational schools now generates more confidence among young people, parents and guardians, which leads to greater mobilisation and enrolment," she noted.
Among the areas of training with the highest enrolment are Hospitality and Catering, Child and Youth Support Services, Tourism and Leisure, Agricultural and Animal Production, and Health. These account for 54% of the trainees now beginning their training programme.
As such, Maria João Carreiro praised the efforts made by schools to align their training provision with the interests of young people and the needs of businesses, stressing that "we now have more provision and more enrolments in areas that create jobs in the Region."
For the Regional Secretary, "the growing recognition of the benefits of vocational education focused on training and the success of trainees leads us to regard the present and future of vocational education in the Azores with optimism," with 2.9 million Euros invested through the RRP to modernise equipment.
In this regard, the government official reiterated the Azorean Government's commitment to "maximise the achievements of the last four years," as outlined in the Regional Agenda for Vocational Training. This will be achieved by "further clarifying to young people and businesses the advantages of this educational path," which provides academic and professional certification.
"Vocational schools are associated with quality and value in the training paths they offer young people, which we want to promote," noted the government official. In this regard, she praised this year's edition of the "Your First Choice" campaign, featuring medal-winning graduates from Skills Portugal – National Skills Championships 2024, which saw the Region win 18 medals, including seven gold medals.
The Regional Secretary also called for significant and committed participation by vocational schools in next year's Regional Skills Championship, which is the qualifying round for Skills Portugal.
During her visit to EPCCIPD, Maria João Carreiro was accompanied by the Regional Director for Vocational Training and Employment, Renato Medeiros, and was welcomed by the President of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Ponta Delgada, Gualter Couto, the Vice-Presidents, Paula Stone and Sandra Moniz, and the Director-General of EPCCIPD, Francisco Gil.
This year, EPCCIPD launched two new Level 4 courses: Management Support Technician and Environmental and Rural Tourism Technician, which have 48 new students enrolled. These courses will complement the 2nd-year Travel Agency Technician and Digital Communication Technician courses as well as the 3rd-year Sales Technician course.
The provision of training tailored to the needs of the member companies of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Ponta Delgada and the internationalisation of its training offer have been the focus of EPCCIPD, which has a record number of trainees, a total of 90, making it a benchmark in the Azorean education and vocational training system.
