EPRALIMA - ESCOLA PROFISSIONAL DOALTO LIMA - COOPERATIVA DE INTERESSE PUBLICO E RESPONSABILIDADE LIMITADA /PORTUGAL

The Ministry of Education homologated EPRALIMA in 1999, as a private non-profit organization, based on a cooperative regime that provides vocational training at various European levels. Epralima is composed of 3 branches: the head-office in Arcos de Valdevez; branch in Ponte da Barca and another in Ponte de Lima; a Skills Assessment Centre which recognizes, validates and certifies skills giving individuals an opportunity to receive academic equivalency; and finally, a Technical Centre which works with transnational and communitarian projects. Epralima contributes to projects due to its: broad knowledge of the region and close relationships with the target-groups; ability to promote the encouragement of networks and mobilize different organizations; experience in the development of different Work Packages: management, assessment, diagnosis, design, and implementation. Its sustainability is linked to the dynamics of the Upper Lima Region, overcoming needs through training.

Epralima's capacity to contribute towards the project is because over the years it has affirmed itself as a local and business-oriented entity. Its contribution derives from its core interventions, such as development of; a partnership working culture at the local, regional, national and community levels; innovative actions through the training and promotion of social and business innovation; integrated business and support of the social tissue and dissemination of lifelong learning culture for active citizens. There have been several work areas that have shaped Epralima's conduct in partnerships with other organizations. Therefore, Epralima possesses the following qualifications: -Carryout needs assessment and market studies; -Design technical and pedagogical resources to support training in various areas; - Evaluate training/non-training interventions; -Design, implement and promote technological platforms to support the development of interventions; -Manage projects and partnership

Epralima has a wide range of courses, namely: Aesthetics, Bar Service, Cookery/Pastry, Electronics Automation/Command, 3D Digital Design, Marketing/Publicity, Tourism, etc. There is a tendency for Electronics

Automation/Command and 3D Digital Design to have more boys than girls enrolled. Students normally start the 3-year programme at the age of 15 and finish at the age of 17-18, but it is acceptable for a 20-year-old to enrol. Therefore, the average age of students that attend Epralima are between 15 and 20. The majority are Portuguese, however there is a large percentage that come from African Portuguese-speaking Countries, such as Cape Verde and Saint Thomas and Prince Islands, due to the protocol that exists between Epralima and the embassies of these countries. The majority of students come from low-income families and reside in the surrounding parishes of Arcos de Valdevez, Ponte da Barca and Ponte de Lima. Most students are classified as level A2 or B1 CERF.