TeSP courses in Alcobaça
The reform of agricultural sciences in Portugal is crucial to guarantee the competitiveness and sustainability of the agricultural sector in the 21st century. Collaboration between educational institutions and the agricultural sector promotes the transfer of knowledge and innovation, essential for the development of national agriculture.
The integration of professional agricultural education with higher education, in the future, will allow for more complete training adapted to market needs. This synergy will not only provide students with a solid foundation of theoretical and practical knowledge, but will also prepare them to face current challenges such as climate change and the need for more sustainable agricultural practices.
With this in mind, an innovative consortium was created in Alcobaça to operate Higher Professional Technical Courses (TESP) in the agri-food sector. This project is the result of collaboration between the Escola Superior Agrária of the Polytechnic Institute of Santarém, the Municipality of Alcobaça, the University of Coimbra, EPADRC (Cistercian Professional Agricultural and Rural Development School) and INIAV (National Institute of Agricultural and Veterinary Research ).
The consortium aims to promote excellent training in sustainable agricultural practices, as well as preparing students for the challenges of the contemporary agricultural sector. With the experience and knowledge of the institutions involved, we hope to offer quality training that meets the needs of the market.
The training of highly qualified professionals, who are capable of innovating and implementing practical solutions, is fundamental to strengthening the agricultural sector in Portugal, contributing to a more sustainable and productive future.
The new training offer consists of two TESP courses, one in Integrated Production Technologies in Fruit and Vegetables, which starts this academic year (2024/25), and the TESP in Gastronomic Innovation, in the academic year (2025/26). This academic year, the training spaces will be shared between the facilities of CESUCA (Center for Higher Studies of the University of Coimbra in Alcobaça) and EPADRC (Cistercian Agricultural and Rural Development Professional School), in Alcobaça, as well as the experimental fields from the National Institute of Agricultural and Veterinary Research (INIAV).
This project is expected to strengthen the connection between educational institutions and the productive sector, creating internship and professional insertion opportunities for its students, thus strengthening the technical staff of the territory's business community.
The official launch ceremony of the consortium will be on 20/09/2024, at 11 am, at the premises of the Escola Profissional Agrícola e de Desenvolvimento Rural de Cister, in Alcobaça. Everyone is invited to participate in this moment that marks the beginning of a new era for agricultural training in the region and the country.
Registration is now open for the Higher Technical Professional Course (TESP) in Integrated Production Technologies in Horticulture. All interested parties can obtain more information about the application process, curriculum structure and submit their applications on the official website of the Instituto Politécnico de Santarém (www.ipsantarem.pt).
Classes are scheduled to start on September 30, 2024.