Upper secondary

IVET mobility in Portugal is mainly developed within the framework of ERASMUS+ Programme. It is financed by European funds. The target groups are the ones defined in the Programme.

Besides ERASMUS+, only small pilot projects have been carried out by several VET institutions (e.g. sectorial training centres), namely within the framework of ECVET partnerships, also financed by European funds and having as the main target group the IVET learners.

Portugal hasn’t set any quantitative or qualitative target for the development of international mobility in IVET.

Portugal does not have actions for providing IVET learners with information and guidance for international study mobility.

There is no provision, so no coordination thereof.

The existent legal provisions do not include that objective.

More attention has been paid in recent period to improve the dissemination of VET-related information through VET events, fairs, and skills competitions. However, no structured actions have been taken to improve the existing situation through putting in place a mechanism for provision of information and guidance to IVET learners for their international learning mobility.

There is no evaluation of the initiatives taken.

Companies and VET institutions can find information about international mobility on the ERASMUS+ Agency website.

Portugal does not provide IVET learners with information and guidance for international learning mobility. There have been attempts to put in place at least a provision of information through VET events, fairs and skills competitions, however no evaluations of these initiatives have been performed, and no structured actions to implement a full-fledged mechanism for provision of information and guidance to IVET learners on international learning mobility have been taken. Considering a plan for a comprehensive evaluated and countrywide coordinated policy in this area in future would certainly help improving international mobility in IVET

Portugal does not have any promotion action to integrate international learning experiences in the curricula of IVET programmes.

No measures in this regard have been taken.

No measures in this regard have been taken.

No measures in this regard have been taken.

Incoming apprentices and IVET students from the EU benefit (through the European Health Insurance Card) from the same medical care as their counterparts in the country (i.e. local IVET learners).

Incoming apprentices and IVET students (whether from the EU or from third countries) are subject to the country’s labour law and benefit from labour and safety protection in the same conditions as their counterparts in the country (i.e. local IVET learners at work).

Portugal does not have a policy orientation to integrate international learning mobility experiences in the curricula of IVET programmes, and have not set targets for the development of international mobility in IVET. The country has also not taken measures to facilitate the mobility of IVET learners through smoothing the delivery of visas and residency permits to third country nationals, reducing the administrative burdens induced by mobility arrangements, or removing the possible obstacles to the movement of minor apprentices and IVET students. Addressing these issues in future would certainly help improving international learning mobility in IVET.

Recognition of learning outcomes acquired by IVET learners involved in international learning mobility is regulated by law at national / regional level. Recognition of qualifications acquired abroad is carried out with reference to existing recognised qualification in Portugal. The recognition is referenced to the National Qualifications Catalogue (itself referenced to the National Qualifications Framework). The responsible authority is ANQEP (National Agency for Qualification and Vocational Education) (1).

(1) Decree-law 396/2007, 31 December - National Qualification System Dispatch 13584/2014, 10 November - Recognition of qualifications acquired abroad

Learning acquired abroad by IVET learners involved in international learning mobility may be recognised, but the process is felt by users as somewhat difficult. The recognition has to be solicited in a CQEP – Centre for Qualification and VET (under the supervision of the National Agency for Qualification and Vocational Education – ANQEP). The request is then analysed by a CQEP that offers education and training courses in the same area as the qualifications to be recognised. The criteria include identical professional output and similar curricular structure. If the recognition is due, a certification document is issued.

The recognition approach in place in the country applies to:
• Courses
• Programmes
• Qualifications / diplomas / degrees

Coordination is ensured by the National Agency for Qualification and Vocational Education – ANQEP through a national network of Centres for Qualification and Vocational Education (CQEPs).

There is a 30 working days limit counting from the request or from the reception of additional documentation required by the centre for qualification and vocational education in order to complete the analysis.

The centres for qualification and vocational education (CQEP) are responsible for the recognition of learning outcomes acquired abroad. They form a national network. National coordination is ensured by the National Agency for Qualification and Vocational Education - ANQEP. ANQEP is responsible for the creation of a technological platform to support the recognition procedure management. It is also responsible for ensuring the availability of the platform to CQEPs network.

Visibility of these contact points is ensured through two ways. The CQEPs work as autonomous structures inside different types of organizations, such as Secondary Schools, VET Centres, Local Employment Services, etc. In that sense, these contact points are much framed in the current activity of those organizations and share the same target groups, like students or learners. Thus they can be visible to these target groups. On the other hand, the contact points also advertise their activity, namely on recognition, on the internet.

The system for recognition through ANQEP and CQEPs has only been put in place in 2014. The evaluation process will be developed later.

The EUROPASS Mobility Document and the Europass Certificate Supplement are in use in Portugal. ECVET and Learning Outcomes approach are in an initial phase of implementation, i.e. an implementation based on sectorial projects.

Recognition of learning outcomes acquired abroad is carried out against the background of the National Qualification Catalogue, which itself is referenced to the National Qualification Framework, which in turn is referenced to the EQF.

Portugal has in place a mechanism for the recognition of learning outcomes acquired abroad by IVET learners. The mechanism takes into account courses, programmes and qualifications. It is coordinated countrywide and subject to a regulatory 30-day time limit for processing applications. Recognition in Portugal makes use of the EQF/NQF. The Europass Mobility Document and Certificate Supplement, ECVET and the Learning Outcomes approach are also in use in the country, although it is unclear whether this use extends to IVET international mobility. Actions are in place to make visible to users those contact points (CQEPs) where information on recognition can be obtained. This policy is not evaluated however. Also, the recognition process is felt as difficult by users. These drawbacks could be addressed in future. It could be made sure in future that the EU tools for transparency, mobility and recognition are used also for the purpose of IVET international mobility. Extending (to units, modules, credit points) the range of learning components that can be taken into account in the recognition process could also be considered.

Portugal does not have actions to support companies and IVET institutions in the creation of partnerships and networks for international mobility projects.

There is no policy to support the creation of partnerships and networks, so no evaluation thereof.

IVET learners receive financial support for their international mobility within the framework of Erasmus+. The support is in the form of a subsistence allowance while abroad.

The National Agency for Erasmus+ is subject to auditing in compliance with the rules and procedures established under the Programme regulation.

Within the framework of Erasmus+, stakeholders may receive funding for organising mobility projects. Projects participants are entitled to subsistence allowances while on the move. There is no non-financial support.

The financial support provided within Erasmus+ is subject to evaluation in compliance with the rules and procedures established under the Programme regulation.

Portugal has mechanisms to fund IVET learners for their international mobility, and to fund companies and IVET institutions for organising mobility projects. These actions are subject to auditing. There is no non-financial support, in particular for helping businesses and institutions in organising projects or creating networks and partnerships for international mobility. Considering putting in place these types of non-financial support for stakeholders and their staff could certainly open way for further progress in this area in future. Also, setting regular full-fledged evaluations for all the policies carried out in the area would be a significant step forward.

In the thematic area of Information and Guidance, Portugal does not provide IVET learners with information and guidance for international learning mobility. There have been attempts to put in place at least a provision of information through VET events, fairs and skills competitions, however no evaluations of these initiatives have been carried out, and no structured actions to implement a full-fledged mechanism for provision of information and guidance to IVET learners on international learning mobility have been taken. Considering a plan for a comprehensive evaluated and countrywide coordinated policy in this area in future would certainly help improving international mobility in IVET.

In the area of Administrative and Institutional Issues, Portugal does not have a policy orientation to integrate international learning experiences in the curricula of IVET programmes, and have not set targets for the development of international mobility in IVET. The country has also not taken measures to facilitate the mobility of IVET learners through smoothing the delivery of visas and residency permits to third country nationals, or reducing the administrative burdens induced by mobility arrangements, or removing the possible obstacles to the mobility of minor apprentices and IVET students. Addressing these issues in future would certainly help improving international learning mobility in IVET.

Regarding the area of Recognition of Learning Outcomes, Portugal has in place a mechanism for the recognition of learning outcomes acquired abroad by IVET learners. The mechanism takes into account courses, programmes and qualifications. It is coordinated countrywide and subject to a regulatory 30-day time limit for processing applications. Recognition in Portugal makes use of the EQF/NQF. The Europass Mobility Document and Certificate Supplement, ECVET and the Learning Outcomes approach are also in use in the country, although it is unclear whether this use extends to IVET international mobility. Actions are in place to make visible to users those contact points (CQEPs) where information on recognition can be obtained. This policy is not evaluated however. Also, the recognition process is felt as difficult by users. These drawbacks could be addressed in future. It could be made sure in future that the EU tools for transparency, mobility and recognition are used also for the purpose of IVET international mobility. Extending (to units, modules, credit points) the range of learning components that can be taken into account in the recognition process could also be considered.

Finally, concerning the area of Partnerships and Funding, Portugal has mechanisms to fund IVET learners for their international mobility, and to fund companies and IVET institutions for organising mobility projects. These actions are subject to auditing. There is no non-financial support, in particular for helping businesses and institutions in organising projects or creating networks and partnerships for international mobility. Considering putting in place these types of non-financial support for stakeholders and their staff could certainly open way for further progress in this area in future. Also, setting regular full-fledged evaluations for all the policies carried out in the area would be a significant step forward.