Smart specialisation strategies and vocational education and training: the case of Portugal

Abstract

A Smart Specialisation Strategy is essentially a way of thinking about local knowledge enhancement and learning enhancement systems and focuses on the principle that knowledge, research and innovation resources, linked to a limited number of priority economic activities, enable economic development. Considering that vocational education and training (VET) can play a critical role in this innovation through the absorption of know-how, the involvement of these two concepts becomes a critical factor in the regional economic transformation. In this sense, this research aims to analyze the alignment between scientific domains and smart strategies, and to check whether they contribute to the accomplishment of the thematic axes and priority areas identified in the National Strategy for Smart Specialisation (ENEI) and in the Regional Smart Specialisation Strategy (EREI). Document and secondary analysis techniques were used, highlighting the challenges, the added value, and the potential development of the Portuguese regions when compared to the training offer. The conclusions provide insights on the need to further elaborate on the funding and approval mechanisms for vocational education and training (VET) programs to ensure the necessary articulation with the smart specialisation strategies defined in national and regional plans. Finally, it should be noted that the analysis of the alignment of the smart specialisation strategy and the Portuguese educational training offer helps to clarify a relevant gap in the literature, since Smart Specialisation Strategy is a key-concept for the country’s economic development.