Portugal’s Qualifica Programme is an integrated strategy to enhance the employability of adults by tackling the low qualification levels among the adult population. By 2021, it has already led to an increase in adult participation in training and in the number of adults obtaining qualifications. Qualifica operates through three main strategic structures and tools. A network of regional Qualifica Centres aim to bring adult learning and career guidance services closer to target populations. Furthermore, the Qualifica Passport is a digital tool that records an individual’s qualifications, skills, prior learning and interests, and provides guidance on qualifications pathways. Finally, the National Credit System sets out the units of learning that make up professional qualifications, allowing learners to accumulate learning outcomes and certification across different contexts. Between 2017 and 2020, over half a million adults enrolled in Qualifica Centres. Of these, 22% engaged in prior learning assessment and recognition, and 85% obtained a new certification (National Information provided to the OECD). Challenges remain in ensuring sustainable funding for the initiative and in recruiting and retaining high-quality adult educators and career guidance professionals.
In the early stages of the pandemic, Qualifica Centres across the country moved certification and supervision processes online and developed new distance-learning opportunities. In 2021, the government plans to launch the Qualifica Social Programme in response to a need for labour and skills in the social care sector (Porto Canal, 2020[6]).
Further reading: OECD (2020[7]), Education Policy Outlook: Portugal, www.oecd.org/education/policy-outlook/country-profile-Portugal-2020.pdf.