INOVA+ conducts study on Work-Based Learning

Findings from the WBL Champion project highlight strengths, challenges and opportunities to strengthen the link between education and the labour market.

A study developed under the Work-Based Learning (WBL) Champion project, funded by Erasmus+ and led by INOVA+, analyses Work-Based Learning in Portugal, Malta, Italy and Ireland. The report showcases examples of strong cooperation between education providers and companies but also identifies barriers that continue to limit the scale and impact of hands-on learning.

Between good practices and roadblocks: the picture of WBL in Portugal

In Portugal, several education institutions integrate work-based learning into their programmes. Initiatives such as the Curricular Internships in a Business Context (ECCE) at the Faculty of Sciences of the University of Porto, SIQRH – Individual Business Training – Cluster Programmes (funded by COMPETE 2030), and the INNOVATIVE CAR HMI project at the University of Minho demonstrate meaningful collaboration between education and companies, with impacts on innovation, employability and industry linkages.

Still, the study—which involved university lecturers, SME representatives and professionals from the vocational education and training system, among others—identifies major challenges. The main obstacle is the low participation of companies in offering and hosting WBL programmes, reported by 64% of respondents. This is followed by a lack of knowledge and dissemination (56%) and insufficient funding (48%), factors that undermine implementation, scalability and the long-term sustainability of programmes.

The report also points to a misalignment between curricula and labour-market needs, as well as bureaucracy and administrative complexity (28%), calling for simpler processes. On the digital side, adoption remains limited: only 28% say they know or use tools such as learning management platforms, Google Workspace or Microsoft Teams, citing high costs, resistance to change, lack of digital infrastructure and language barriers.

Governance and quality: what still needs consolidation and what the project will deliver

In Portugal, WBL is supported by several structures: the National Qualifications System (SNQ), managed by ANQEP; the IEFP, which regulates internship programmes and vocational training; and DGEstE, responsible for work-based learning in secondary schools. In higher education, universities and polytechnics have autonomy to integrate WBL, supported by specific regulation, but the report suggests the creation of a dedicated regulatory body to address coordination gaps and standardise quality.

Within WBL Champion, INOVA+ is leading the production of national and international reports on national and European policies related to work-based learning and is also responsible for developing a Quality Assurance Toolkit for higher-education courses that include this component. In parallel, the project is advancing a Quality Assurance Framework, strengthening continuous professional development, and creating a Digital Platform to support WBL, with content, learning management tools and progress monitoring.

For more information and to download the full report, visit the WBL Champion project website.