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1. Official guidelines on traineeships and apprenticeships

2. Promoting traineeships and apprenticeships

3. Recognition of learning outcomes

4. Funding

5. Quality assurance

Official guidelines on traineeships and apprenticeships

Active employment policies promote trainee programmes for graduates and young people with vocational and technological courses. There are various internship programmes:

• Curricular internships: part of a degree study plan, mandatory in fields like Medicine and Teaching, usually unpaid.

• Extracurricular internships: optional, organised by companies, may be paid or unpaid.

• Professional traineeships: for accessing professional orders and certificates.

Internships can be national or international, depending on the programme. Regulations vary by type and purpose.

Educational and Training/Vocational Courses

These courses help young people enter the labour market and may include scholarships and allowances. They offer real working environment training.

Remunerated internships

Funded by community funds, part of the Youth Guarantee programme, aimed at NEET youth and adults up to 35.

Unfunded internships

Organised by employers without public funding, regulated by Decree-Law no. 66/2011.

Professional orders' internships

Required for certain professions, involving an admission exam and professional internship.

Rights and duties

Remunerated internships involve a contract, subject to work duration, breaks, and absences rules. Internships are taxed and subject to social security contributions.

Promoting traineeships and apprenticeships

Youth participation in internships and apprenticeships is promoted through various channels: online portals, social networks, brochures, and fairs like “Futurália” and QUALIFICA.

Public Sector Employment Exchange

Aggregates recruitment and mobility processes in public administration, 

Iefpoline

IEFP's portal for publishing internships and employment measures.

IPDJ Service Network

Provides information through the Youth Line [linha da Juventude/ (+351) 800 20 30 50] and Ponto JA Stores.

Recognition of Learning Outcomes

Varies by programme type. Curricular internships are evaluated and may earn credits (ECTS). Remunerated internships are assessed by counsellors, with certificates issued. Erasmus+ internships may offer credit equivalence. Professional orders internships follow specific regulations.

Funding

The Operational Programme for Social Inclusion and Employment (PO ISE) funds youth employment initiatives with €350M, mainly from European funds.

Quality assurance

Programmes are monitored through assessments, audits, and compliance with cooperation protocols. IEFP publishes employability statistics and oversees financial support allocation. Public administration internships require final reports, and Inov Contact trainees provide post-internship information for five years.