The Government of the Azores, through the Regional Directorate for Communities in a partnership with INA – National Institute of Public Administration, will organise the training course on “Citizenship and Cultural Diversity in Professional Practice” to be held in Madalena do Pico from October 20 to 28.
This training course is the result of a course launched by INA in 2008, under a partnership established with the High Commission for Immigration and Intercultural Dialogue (ACIDI), as well as of the organisation of two courses in cities of Angra do Heroísmo and Horta in 2009. 
The course in question is based on the project “Migrations and Development” which was developed under the Community Initiative EQUAL by the following entities:  Directorate-General for Consular Affairs and Portuguese Communities –DGACCP (the entities in charge of the project), the High Commission for Immigration and Intercultural Dialogue (ACIDI), the Amílcar Cabral Information Centre for Development (CIDAC), Commission for Equality in Labour and Employment (CITE), the Employment and Vocational Training Institute (IEFP), and the Inter cooperation and Development Institute (INDE).
Being addressed at Regional and local Public Administration workers as well as at professionals integrated in non-governmental institutions and officials in the area of migration, minorities, equal opportunities, social exclusion and inclusion, this training course aims to provide knowledge and skills that will allow them to improve their ability to live and work in open and complex environments and to raise awareness for the importance of developing an active European citizenship open to the world based on common values which respect cultural diversity. In addition, this initiative also intends to integrate in the transverse skills, which are specific to the activity they carry out among diversified cultural communities, the dimensions of global citizenship and intercultural relations in light of applicable law in order to ensure integrated solutions and the coherency deemed necessary for the quality of the individual and institutional performance. The promotion of participation, balance, justice and social cohesion by improving the responses provided by the institutions that render public service to heterogeneity of people who seek them are other goals of this project.
The course is developed through several methodologies selected in accordance with the contents to be taught and includes active and cooperative learning strategies, theory, discussions and reflections on the topics, sharing of professional practices and knowledge application.