ATEC - Training Academy

ATEC – Training Academy, created in December 2003, is the outcome of a project conceived by the promoters Volkswagen Autoeuropa, Siemens, Bosch and the German-Portuguese Chamber of Commerce and Industry, with the support of the Portuguese Government, aiming to provide Portugal with a Training structure that would meet the needs of the Industrial cluster in terms of staff training and qualification. 

The promoter Companies established has main guidelines, the fulfilment of their resources, and the market’s, training needs and qualify or reconvert unemployed resources according to the high requirements and quality standards they normally practice. Moreover, the academy is to act in the market in a free competition regime, in order to provide services in the fields of training and consultancy, to all companies or entities that request its intervention. 

In order to respond to the needs the industry nationwide, ATEC is strategically located in the south of Portugal, being its headquarters located in Volkswagen Autoeuropa’s suppliers Park, and a delegation in the north, near Siemens Park in Oporto.

ATEC’s core business is the professional qualification of youngsters in several technical areas. ATEC training methodology according to German standards binds theory and practice allowing trainees to experience the routine of a normal worker and acquire a set of values and attitudes that help them grow professionally and individually. Thus, along a strong theoretical component, the trainees undergo long periods of practical training in a real working context, in several partner companies, where they apply and expand their knowledge.  Most of these SME’s end up integrating the trainees into their staff due. 

The Academy has a very high employment rate, hence contributing actively to the reduction of unemployment and to the creation of professional skills, key factors to raise Portugal’s competitiveness within the European space.

ATEC also offers companies Taylor-made courses and intervention projects in the scope of Operational Consultancy. In the operational scope of areas such as Industrial Organization and Optimization, ATEC acts in the areas of productivity, and quality, through the Lean Management Philosophies and in the milieu of Production Systems. ATEC has also been creating some diversity in its areas of intervention, then it currently develops activities from which one can point out areas linked to Methods, Quality and Logistics, Lean Tools and MTM.  

Due to the work carried out so far, ATEC Training Academy has been gaining merit both nationwide and at an increasing international level. Beyond a vast set of national entities with which ATEC has been cooperating, whether through partnerships and protocols be it with education institutions, including several Universities, and companies that request services of both training and consultancy, several other entities have contacted ATEC, seeking to evaluate their organizations’ methods and methodologies and operating mode, in order to be able to, in some cases, reproduce the experience. 

Message from the Administration

In 2014 ATEC celebrated its 10th anniversary. Ten years of intense activity in terms of training development as well as in the creation of new courses and in the expansion of its activity to other places.

In the sum of its activities, between 2004 and 2014, ATEC developed over 10 million training hours and certified over 3500 young apprentices and specialized technicians. Over these 10 years, ATEC grew, became stronger and continuously adapted itself to the needs conveyed by the market.

Also in 2014, ATEC renewed the Cooperation Agreement with IEFP (governmental entity responsible for Training and Employment) for then more years. This renewal was a sign of the trust the Portuguese Sate has in ATEC’s work in the field of vocational training. Our medium term strategy foresees the intensification of training for the market (companies and independent professionals), expand and consolidate the presence of the academy in Portugal, and in a third step continue the internationalization of the training activities.

The long-term growth strategy is to follow the market trends and participate in national and international projects, with strategic partners, thus allowing ATEC to be in touch with the latest technological evolution. ATEC will also try to strengthen the cooperation with the industry and universities seeking to become the bond between both.

In sum, our strategy is to help promote the development of the country.

Who we are

ATEC – Training Academy, created in December 2003, is the outcome of a project conceived by the promoters Volkswagen Autoeuropa, Siemens, Bosch and the German-Portuguese Chamber of Commerce and Industry, with the support of the Portuguese Government, aiming at providing Portugal with a training structure that would meet the needs of the industrial clusters in terms of staff training and qualification.

The promoter companies established the guidelines for ATEC:

- Expand practice-oriented training;

- Training according to German standards (Dual System);

- Knowledge transfer and sharing;

- Qualify for the market;

- Strengthen industry, specially the automotive and electronics clusters;

ATEC is certified as a training entity since 2004 by DGERT (governmental entity responsible for training organizations, employment and labor relations). Its Quality Management System is certified according to ISO 9001:2008. Additionally, in 2006, ATEC was acknowledge by the Prime-Minister as Public Utility Institution according to Decree no. 11 707/2006, published on the 31st of May 2006.

ATEC - Training Academy

What do we do

The activity is based on three business areas:

Training is organized and developed by highly qualified professionals who use the most adequate and attractive intervention methodologies to accomplish the established goals.

Where we are

ATEC is strategically located in Palmela, near Lisbon, and in Oporto, in order to cover the entire national territory.

In 2012, in response to training needs of regional industrial clusters, ATEC decentralized its training and started developing locally Technology Specialization Courses in Aveiro, Braga, São João da Madeira and Viseu. The year 2014 marked the expansion to the south of the country, hence on October 06, ATEC started a technological specialization course in the port city Sines, where the major oil companies are located.

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