Timeline
  • 2021Approved/Agreed
  • 2022Implementation
  • 2023Implementation
  • 2024Implementation
ID number
41456

Background

A brief overview of the context and rationale of the policy development, explaining why it is implemented or why it is important.

The programme Qualification for internationalisation was created under the Internationalise 2030 programme, approved by the Resolution of the Council of Ministers No 20/2021, of 19 March 2021. It was aimed at the qualification of human resources in the areas of internationalisation and international trade.

Objectives

Goals and objectives of the policy development.

The programme aims to develop micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Portugal by strengthening the professional skills of their employees in those areas.

The main objective is to qualify and train human resources in order to:

  1. increase their employability, promote the integration of unemployed people in companies and contribute to preventing the risk of unemployment, in the case of the employed, and simultaneously increasing their contribution to the success of the employer's internationalisation process;
  2. increase the supply of qualified human resources in the labour market in the areas of internationalisation and international trade;
  3. adapt the vocational training provided to the labour market needs.

Description

What/How/Who/For whom/When of the policy development in detail, explaining its activities and annual progress, main actors and target groups.

The training courses are part of the national catalogue of qualifications (CNQ) and the training content is included in the thematic area of internationalisation.

The programme training is composed of a set of short-duration training units (UFCD) of the CNQ with a maximum duration of 350 hours.

Whenever deemed useful and pertinent, although not mandatory, the training paths, available online or face-to-face, may be complemented by work-based learning (WBL), with a minimum duration of 140 hours and maximum of 420 hours.

2021
Approved/Agreed

In 2021, a 275-hour training course was created about the internationalisation basics.

2022
Implementation

This measure is part of the NIP under the package Flexibility and diversification.

In 2022, five other training courses about internationalisation were created and published in the CNQ:

  • Prospecting, attracting and retaining customers (175 hours),
  • International Market and Digital Media (200 hours),
  • International logistics (150 hours),
  • Market Trends and Analysis (200 hours),
  • Monitoring and control of international business (125 hours).

From the start of the qualification for internationalisation programme, in March 2021, until December 2022, 2 282 trainees were covered.

2023
Implementation

In 2023, more than 5 000 trainees were enrolled in the Qualification for internationalisation programme, provided by the network of training centres of the Institute for Employment and Vocational Training (IEFP).

2024
Implementation

Until September, 4 299 trainees were enrolled, 2 443 of whom obtained certification. The most popular courses were Market trends and analyses and Internationalisation fundamentals.

Bodies responsible

This section lists main bodies that are responsible for the implementation of the policy development or for its specific parts or activities, as indicated in the regulatory acts. The responsibilities are usually explained in its description.
  • Institute for Employment and Vocational Training (IEFP)
  • Portugal Global - Trade and Investment Agency (AICEP)
  • National Agency for Qualification and Vocational Education and Training (ANQEP)

Target groups

Those who are positively and directly affected by the measures of the policy development; those on the list are specifically defined in the EU VET policy documents. A policy development can be addressed to one or several target groups.

Entities providing VET

  • Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs)

Thematic categories

Thematic categories capture main aspects of the decision-making and operation of national VET and LLL systems. These broad areas represent key elements that all VET and LLL systems have to different extents and in different combinations, and which come into focus depending on the EU and national priorities. Thematic categories are further divided into thematic sub-categories. Based on their description, policy developments can be assigned to one or several thematic categories.

Governance of VET and lifelong learning

This thematic category looks at existing legal frameworks providing for strategic, operational – including quality assurance – and financing arrangements for VET and lifelong learning (LLL). It examines how VET and LLL-related policies are placed in broad national socioeconomic contexts and coordinate with other strategies and policies, such as economic, social and employment, growth and innovation, recovery and resilience.

This thematic category covers partnerships and collaboration networks of VET stakeholders – especially the social partners – to shape and implement VET in a country, including looking at how their roles and responsibilities for VET at national, regional and local levels are shared and distributed, ensuring an appropriate degree of autonomy for VET providers to adapt their offer.

The thematic category also includes efforts to create national, regional and sectoral skills intelligence systems (skills anticipation and graduate tracking) and using skills intelligence for making decisions about VET and LLL on quality, inclusiveness and flexibility.

Coordinating VET and other policies

This thematic sub-category refers to the integration of VET into economic, industrial, innovation, social and employment strategies, including those linked to recovery, green and digital transitions, and where VET is seen as a driver for innovation and growth. It includes national, regional, sectoral strategic documents or initiatives that make VET an integral part of broader policies, or applying a mix of policies to address an issue VET is part of, e.g. in addressing youth unemployment measures through VET, social and active labour market policies that are implemented in combination. National skill strategies aiming at quality and inclusive lifelong learning also fall into this sub-category.

European and international dimensions of VET

This thematic category covers both European and international cooperation in initial and continuing VET, aimed at promoting EU VET systems as a European education and training area and making it a reference for learners in neighbouring countries and across the globe.

Expanding opportunities and increasing participation of VET learners, young and adult, and staff in international mobility for learning and work, including apprenticeship and virtual and blended mobility, account for most initiatives in this thematic category.

Apart from established and financially supported EU cooperation, VET opens up to cooperation and promotion of European values and national practices beyond the EU, which is becoming a trend. This thematic category also encompasses internationalisation strategies, transnational cooperation projects and initiatives – including those where joint VET programmes, examinations and qualifications are developed – and  participation in international skills competitions that promote the image of VET. Using international qualifications – awarded by legally established international bodies or by a national body acting on behalf of an international body – in the national VET systems and recognising them towards national qualifications is also in focus.

VET internationalisation strategies

This thematic sub-category refers to developing internationalisation strategies supporting a strategic approach to international cooperation in VET and lifelong learning, including going beyond the EU.

European priorities in VET

EU priorities in VET and LLL are set in the Council Recommendation for VET for sustainable competitiveness, social fairness and resilience, adopted on 24 November 2020 and in the Osnabrück Declaration on VET endorsed on 30 November 2020.

VET Recommendation

  • VET agile in adapting to labour market challenges
  • Flexibility and progression opportunities at the core of VET

Osnabrück Declaration

  • Resilience and excellence through quality, inclusive and flexible VET

Subsystem

Part of the vocational education and training and lifelong learning systems the policy development applies to.
CVET

Further reading

Sources for further reading where readers can find more information on policy developments: links to official documents, dedicated websites, project pages. Some sources may only be available in national languages.

Country

Type of development

Policy developments are divided into three types: strategy/action plan; regulation/legislation; and practical measure/initiative.
Practical measure/Initiative
Cite as

Cedefop, & ReferNet. (2025). Qualification for internationalisation programme: Portugal. In Cedefop, & ReferNet. (2025). Timeline of VET policies in Europe (2024 update) [Online tool].

https://www.cedefop.europa.eu/en/tools/timeline-vet-policies-europe/search/41456