For the second consecutive year, the Government of the Azores will support unemployed graduates in order to help them redirecting their training to other fields, which will enhance their possibility of integration in the labour market.

Under the "Requalificar" programme, the government's support is awarded through the full payment of tuition fees for master's degrees in areas of higher employability among the courses provided by the University of the Azores.

"Requalificar" is not mandatory and the decision of applying for this programme falls under the responsibility of the unemployed. The University of the Azores will be in charge of selecting the applicants for the courses covered by this measure, while the Regional Directorate for Employment and Vocational Training will ensure the full payment of tuition fees.

An ordinance published today by the Vice-Presidency of the Government in the Official Journal identifies the training areas of lower employability, taking into account the number of people registered at regional Employment Agencies and the time these people remain registered in a certain area.

This programme will provide unemployed graduates with a wide range of master's degrees in several fields: Environment, Health and Safety, Economic and Business Sciences, Management of International Tourism and Translation and Linguistic Consultancy - Ponta Delgada Campus; Agricultural Engineering, Animal Science Engineering and Food Technology and Safety - Terceira Campus; Integrated Ocean Studies - Faial Campus.

The initiative will also support post-graduation courses on Data Analysis and Information Management, and Food Safety and Public Health at the Ponta Delgada Campus (São Miguel Island).

This year, the Government will support, for the first time, a Technological Specialisation Course in Agriculture and Cattle Raising, which will run at the University of the Azores - Angra do Heroísmo Campus.