Exponor is once again hosting the Qualifica 2023 fair which is dedicated to the debate on Education, Training, Youth and Employment. The most recent edition has the theme "Create the Future"
Between March 1 and 4, the challenge to all Qualifica visitors is a visit to the future and the demands of a constantly changing market. "Create the Future" is the subject to be studied in this room that is not a classroom, but which is estimated to receive more than 30,000 students from all over the country.
The starting point for this edition is a study by the "Institute For The Future", which states that 85% of the jobs performed in 2030 have not yet been invented. In a constantly changing context, there are two main causes: the pandemic has accelerated the digital transformation, which in turn has unlocked business sectors and new opportunities.
"We know that it is urgent to prepare the labor market for these changes and for the professional requalification of its workers, but we believe that the first step of this revolution must start from the school ecosystem. Thus, we have developed a Fair that creates a future and that, above all, responds to the fears and doubts of the youngest. In this edition, we move with an adventurous spirit, free and full of causes. We will give stage to the professions of the future, to the ambitions of young people, increasingly entrepreneurial and irreverent, in a world of immense opportunities, where the sky is the limit", comments Amélia Estevão, Exponor's Marketing Director.
The more than 140 exhibitors will represent a showcase of the current panorama to all visitors - young people, teachers and family members - so that they take away from this experience new visions and perspectives. In order to present what's new in the academic and professional ecosystems, diverse courses and future trends will be presented.
New work models also lead young people to aspire to a job that allows them to have a certain freedom, working anywhere in the world. In order to help them start their studies, the agencies EF Education First, Information Planet and Next Level will also be present, as well as the Erasmus National Agency. As in the previous edition, Qualifica presents three other international exhibitors: the University of Vigo (Spain), the University of Santiago de Compostela (Spain) and the Intercontinental de la Empresa University (Spain). In this spectrum, the presence of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is also confirmed, with the intention of promoting internships.
At a national level, the Universities of Minho, UTAD, Beira Interior, Aveiro, Lisbon and Évora as well as the polytechnic institutes of Viana do Castelo, Cávado e Ave, Guarda, Castelo Branco, Bragança, Leiria, Coimbra, Viseu and Portalegre, are some of those who will be present. The University Residence Livensa Living will be in charge of supporting the students' stay outside their home city. Five aviation schools will also be present, as well as the Armed Forces, PSP, GNR, and Leroy Merlin on a recruitment mission. The Autoridade Tributária e Aduaneira (Tax and Customs Authority) has also confirmed its presence, in order to highlight the importance of tax education for young people.
Qualifica 2023
This is an event dedicated to the younger public, so the organization's effort is to create fun, inclusive and engaging dynamics. In an edition where the future is the watchword, the "Create the Future" Arena was created, a space that offers visitors the opportunity to create memories with interactive activities. Virtual reality will also be very present in a space where several companies will present products and experiences within this theme. The "Create the Future" space, with companies highlighting the professions of the future, is also one of the great novelties of this edition.
Reflecting on all these transformations can become challenging, since they are not always mentioned in the classroom. Thus, Qualifica has also prepared moments of talks, dedicated to teachers, counselors and young people, with topics that allow us to discuss the demands of the coming years.