Education and Training Projects ICT Academies ICT Academies
Higher education ICT Academies aim at vocational training in Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) and the corresponding internationally-recognised certification based on widely-recognised training programmes, prepared by companies of international standing in the areas of ICT.
The ICT Academies in Higher Education promote the supply of the aforementioned training in higher education institutions, focussing on polytechnic institutes in particular.
The Information Society action programme Connecting Portugal includes fostering of ICT training and skill development, improving its supply for different audiences, the acquisition of technological skills by young people that are crucial for the modern job market, as well as recognition and accreditation of acquired skills.
In this context, and given the fact that there is a shortage of ICT professionals in Portugal, the aim is to set up and operate ICT Academies in conjunction with companies that have ICT vocational training and certification programmes, namely at polytechnics and universities.
The objective is also for these initiatives to foster the creation of local networks fostering ICT skills, involving higher education institutions, elementary and secondary schools, training and employment support organizations, social development institutions, enterprises and enterprise associations.
Although the ICT Academies project was initially prepared with Cisco Systems Inc., its first formal implementation was the Microsoft IT Academies, based on a protocol signed by UMIC and Microsoft on 30th November 2007.
At the end of 2007, there existed in Portugal 8 Microsoft IT Academies, namely at the following institutions: Escola Superior de Tecnologia de Castelo Branco, Instituto Politécnico de Leiria, Instituto Politécnico de Tomar, Instituto Superior de Engenharia do Porto, Fundação Minerva, Universidade Lusíada de Lisboa, ATEC – Escola Profissional – Porto, Coptécnica Gustav Eiffel – Amadora, FORINO – Escola Profissional – Lisbon. 14 new Microsoft Academies are planned to open in 2008.
On 9th May 2008, on the occasion of the inauguration of the Centro Hércules, Cisco joined the ICT Academies promoted by UMIC in Higher Education institutions, thereby agreeing to include Cisco Networking Academies in the UMIC ICT Academies in Higher Education initiative. Plans are for 250 new Cisco Networking Academies to open in Portugal.
In May 2009, Sun Microsystems Joined the ICT Academies in Higher Education promoted by UMIC, signing a protocol with the Knowledge Society Agency (UMIC) to foster the professional qualification in Sun technologies through the development of the Sun Microsystems Academy Program in Higher Education institutions in Portugal and to involve Higher Education in training and certification of ICT skills for the labour market.
In March 2010, SAS and IPL join the ICT Academies in Higher Education promoted by UMIC, signing protocols with the Knowledge Society Agency (UMIC). The protocol signed with SAS aims to promote training and certification in business management and analysis technologies, applicable to areas of engineering, economics, medicine, marketing, energy, environment and social sciences, among others. The protocol signed with the LPI – Linux Professional Institute aims to promote the training and certification of skills in the use of Linux systems, open source and free software technologies in Higher Education institutions. It was agreed that in the academic contracts to be issued under this protocol will involve the free use of the LPI system and facilitated conditions for training and certification of instructors and trainees.