UC joins consortium to launch Higher Professional Technical Courses in the agri-food sector in Alcobaça

The University of Coimbra (UC) is part of a consortium for the creation of Technical Higher Professional Courses (TESP) in the agri-food sector, which was officially launched today (Friday 20th) in Alcobaça. The project, which is the result of collaboration between Alcobaça's Higher and Vocational Schools, the Municipality of Alcobaça, the UC and the National Institute for Agricultural and Veterinary Research, aims to promote training excellence in sustainable agricultural practices and prepare students for the challenges of today's agricultural sector.

With the experience and expertise of the institutions involved (which combine agricultural technical education and higher education), the partners hope to offer quality training that meets the needs of the market, providing students with a solid base of theoretical and practical knowledge, but also preparing them to face current challenges such as climate change and the need for more sustainable agricultural practices.

The new training programme includes two TESP courses, one in Integrated Technologies for Fruit and Vegetable Production, which will start this academic year (2024/25), and another in Gastronomic Innovation, which will begin in 2025/26.

The official launch ceremony took place at the EPADRC premises and was attended by the UC Pro-Rector for Corporate Relations, Nuno Mendonça. The consortium members stressed that this project will strengthen the link between educational institutions and the manufacturing sector, creating internship and work placement opportunities for their students, which will strengthen the technical staff of the region's business fabric.