Description
Country
Description of the initiative
The CSQs are part of the National Qualifications System (SANQ) and their purpose is to collaborate with the National Agency for Qualifications and Vocational Education (ANQEP, I.P.) in the work leading to the updating of the National Qualifications Catalogue (CNQ). The CSQ work and the updated CNQ is used to plan the TVET Portuguese network according to the labour market needs of skills for today and in the future. Even though CSQs are part of SANQ, it has a legally framed regulation and their members are external to SANQ management.
Focus area
The CSQs are consultative bodies whose main task is to identify the strategic and essential qualifications for the different sectors of the economy as a response to today's and future labour market challenges. It is a main national tool for managing skills assessment and anticipation in 18 different sectors of activity.
Link
Reference/weblink
Implementation level
At what level is the initiative implemented?
National
Legal base
Legal base (E.g. Law, regulation, implementing provision, other)
Constitution and regulation of the Sector Councils for Qualification (Order nº6345/2020 of June 16th);
Starting period
TIMESPAN: In what year did the initiative commence?
The CSQ were created in 2007 (Decree-Law nº 396/2007 of December 31st); updated in 2017 (Decree-Law nº 14/2017 of January 26th); revised and regulated independently in 2020 (Order nº 6345/2020 of June 16th).
Perspective
PERSPECTIVE: is the initiative based on evidence derived from skill forecasts or foresight activities?
The initiative is based on expert contributions, available or conducted research, and national and supra-national labour market analysis.
Policy area
To which POLICY AREAS(s) does the initiative apply?
Funding
How it is funded?
Funded by national government
Skill mismatch
Skill mismatch target
What type(s) of skills MISMATCH does the initiative aim to addresses?
Underqualification (individuals' qualifications/credentials are below their job's needs)
Skill shortages (employers cannot fill their vacancies due to a lack of skills in the labour market)
Skill gaps (worker's skills are below the level of proficiency required by their employers and jobs)
Skills obsolescence (some or all of an individual's skills are no longer relevant to the current employer or in the labour market generally)
Skills matching focus
How does the initiative address skills mismatches?
The initiative is specifically designed to address occupational skills assessment and anticipation in 18 different sectors, as well as to update each of the occupations' skills on those sectors.
Methods
Methods
What methods of undertaking skills assessments and / or skills anticipation does the policy instrument utilise?
Skills forecasting
The council meets annually to assess the need for new skills in each sector and occupation.
Skills foresight
The council meets annually to assess the need for new skills in each sector and occupation.
Expert panels
The council is an expert based and labour regulator platform and meets annually to assess on each sector and occupation.
Skill audits
The council meets annually to audit each occupations' skills and of each sector.
Other
The council updates the National Qualifications Catalogue, a tool that is used in its turn to plan the Portuguese TVET network and other platforms for skills mismatch or labour market needs.
Use of skills intelligence
How is labour market information / skills intelligence used within the initiative?
The National Qualifications Catalogue is updated and used as a planning tool.
The National Qualifications Catalogue is updated and used as a planning tool for designing training programmes to activate unemployed.
The National Qualifications Catalogue is updated and used as a planning tool for planning the Portuguese TVET system, hence the decision on course funding and provision.
Stakeholders
Main responsible body
Main body or organisation with overall responsibility for the initiative.
National agency
National Agency for Qualifications and Vocational Education (ANQEP, I.P.)
Other involved organisations
Which other organisations have a role in the initiative?
National ministry
Experts appointed by the governmental area that oversees the activity sector covered by the CSQ
National agency
The National Agency for Qualifications and Vocational Education (ANQEP, I.P - Member)
Social partner: employer organisation
Representatives of the employers (Members)
Social partner: trade union
Representatives of the trade union confederations and associations (members)
National PES
Institute of Employment Services and Vocational education training (IEFP, I.P. - Member)
Chambers of Commerce
Business and industry associations, representing the activity sectors covered by the CSQ (Members)
Training Providers
Public, private and cooperative education establishments, including professional schools, training entities and Qualifica Centres, particularly those with sector or regional specialization. Directly managed Vocational Training Centres and IEFP, I. P.'s participated Vocational Training Centres (Members)
Research centres, universities
Technology centres, innovation centres and research and development centres with sectorial specialisation (Members)
Beneficiaries
Who are the intended beneficiaries?
Other
This initiative is a useful tool for citizens in general as indirect beneficiaries, but it is intended for vocational education and training operators, enterprises and organisations, social partners, and also for the entities with responsibility in the management and regulation of the National Qualifications System.
Sustainability
Success factors
SUCCESS FACTORS in the implementation
It is dependent particularly on member participation and their expertise, and their capacity to stay relevant. Also on the managing capacity of ANQEP, I.P. and the quality and projection of CSQs work outcomes.
Monitoring and evaluation
MONITORING and EVALUATION: Is progress measured regularly? What are the indicators used to measure progress of the policy instrument? Have any evaluations been conducted?
There is no known formal monitoring evaluation progress measurement beyond the regular meetings and the constant updating of the NQC.
Updates
UPDATES: whether there have been any major updates of the initiative since it has been implemented?
Yes
It was revised and regulated independently in 2020 (Order nº 6345/2020 of June 16th)
Effectiveness
EVIDENCE ON EFFECTIVENESS: How effective is the policy instrument?
The National Qualifications Catalogue is updated yearly.
Sustainability
SUSTAINABILITY: How sustainable is the policy instrument? Do you expect the instrument to continue over the next few years and why?
This initiative was recently regulated (2020) and there are no identified risks at the present that can put its sustainability in stake. The instrument is to be kept functioning and widely used for the Portuguese TVET framework strategic and operational planning.
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