ANQEP - Agência Nacional para a Qualificação e o Ensino Profissional

What ANQEP - Agência Nacional para a Qualificação e o Ensino Profissional does

ANQEP — Agência Nacional para a Qualificação e o Ensino Profissional, I.P. — was a Portuguese public institute (Instituto Público) established on February 15, 2012 under Decree-Law n.º 36/2012 and operating under the joint supervision of the Ministry of Education, Science and Innovation and the Ministry of Labour, Solidarity and Social Security. The agency functioned as the central coordinating body for Portugal's National Qualifications System, managing the National Qualifications Catalogue (371 qualifications at levels 2, 4, and 5), overseeing the Qualifica Programme (1.4 million+ cumulative enrollments), and coordinating a delivery network of 309 Qualifica Centres complemented by professional schools, IEFP training centres, and DGERT-certified entities. Its mandate covered improving qualification levels of youth and adults, regulating double-certification vocational pathways (school + professional), and representing Portugal as the National Contact Point for the European Qualifications Framework (EQF), ECVET, and EPALE, and as the National Reference Point for EQAVET. By 2024, 40% of Portuguese youth were enrolled in double-certification courses regulated under ANQEP's framework.

The agency's technology backbone comprised SIGO (Sistema Integrado de Informação e Gestão da Oferta Educativa e Formativa) for registration and issuance of diplomas and certificates, the Passaporte Qualifica platform for credential storage and authentication, and the Catálogo Nacional de Qualificações as the strategic reference instrument for non-tertiary qualifications. The product portfolio spanned youth education programs — Cursos Profissionais (3-year upper-secondary), Cursos de Educação e Formação, Cursos Artísticos Especializados, Cursos de Especialização Tecnológica, and Cursos de Aprendizagem — and adult qualification services including RVCC (Recognition, Validation and Certification of Competences), EFA courses, Formações Modulares Certificadas, and foreign qualification recognition.

As a non-commercial public institute with 41 employees, ANQEP generated no commercial revenue; all operations were funded through Portuguese state budget allocations, and the agency administered €575 million of PRR (Plano de Recuperação e Resiliência) investments across three programmes: Acelerador Qualifica (€55M targeting 100,000 adults by 2025), Projetos Locais (€40M for 225 local qualification projects), and Centros Tecnológicos Especializados (€480M for 365 specialised technology centres). Under Decreto-Lei n.º 104/2025 of September 11, 2025, ANQEP was extinguished by fusion effective July 1, 2026, with its attributions redistributed to the newly created EDUQA (Instituto de Educação, Qualidade e Avaliação), DGERT, and IEFP.

Name

ANQEP - Agência Nacional para a Qualificação e o Ensino Profissional

Legal name

Agência Nacional para a Qualificação e o Ensino Profissional, I.P.

Website

https://anqep.gov.pt

Company type

Public

Founded year

2012

Operating status

Closed

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

ANQEP was Portugal's public institute coordinating the National Qualifications System, regulating the Catálogo Nacional de Qualificações (371 qualifications) and 309 Qualifica Centres, until its extinction by fusion on July 1, 2026, with functions transferred to EDUQA, DGERT, and IEFP.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Vocational Education and Training Administration

NAICS

Educational Support Services (6117), Technical and Trade Schools (6115), Apprenticeship Training (611513)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYEDADAFAB

Qualifications Framework Authorities (NQF/Skills Framework)

Education/Education Administration, Accreditation & Policy/Assessment, Examinations & Qualifications Authorities

SECONDARYEDADAAAH

TVET/Skills & Workforce Education Authorities

Education/Education Administration, Accreditation & Policy/Education Ministries, Departments & Regulatory Agencies

SECONDARYEDADACAJ

Accreditation Standards, Benchmarking & Framework Organizations

Education/Education Administration, Accreditation & Policy/Accreditation Bodies (Institutional & Programmatic)

SECONDARYBPADAKAL

Assessment, Certification & Qualifications Frameworks

Business & Public Services/International Organizations & Development/Education & Skills Development Programs

Keywords

• Vocational education administration
• National qualifications framework
• Adult learning programs
• Professional certification services
• Public training coordination

Headquarters

HQ city

Lisbon

HQ country

Portugal

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Others

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

ANQEP was a Portuguese public institute (Instituto Público) that coordinated the National Qualifications System (Sistema Nacional de Qualificações) and vocational education and training policy in Portugal. It maintained and updated the National Qualifications Catalogue (Catálogo Nacional de Qualificações), managed the Qualifica Programme for adult education and training, oversaw a national network of 309 Qualifica Centres, coordinated double-certification vocational training offers, and ensured alignment of Portuguese qualifications with European frameworks (EQF, ECVET, EQAVET).

Product overview

ANQEP is the National Agency for Qualification and Vocational Education and Professional Training in Portugal, managing a comprehensive system of educational and training offerings. The core portfolio includes the Catálogo Nacional de Qualificações (CNQ) - a strategic management instrument for qualifications at levels 2, 4, and 5; the Programa Qualifica targeting adult learners; and a network of 309 Qualifica Centres providing RVCC services and certification. The agency oversees multiple educational programs for youth (Cursos Profissionais, Cursos de Educação e Formação, Cursos Artísticos Especializados, Cursos de Especialização Tecnológica, Cursos de Aprendizagem) and adults (RVCC, Cursos EFA, Formações Modulares Certificadas, Vias de Conclusão do Secundário). Key platforms include SIGO for diploma/certificate issuance, Qualifica Passport for credential storage, and EPALE for European adult learning collaboration. ANQEP also manages Portugal's participation in international programs like PIAAC and coordinates the European Qualifications Framework implementation. Note: ANQEP was dissolved effective July 1, 2026, with functions transferred to DGERT, IEFP, and EDUQA.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Programa Qualifica: Programme directed at adults allowing them to improve their school and professional qualifications.
• Catálogo Nacional de Qualificações

Products and services

• Qualifica Programme (Programa Qualifica) Adult education and training programme providing guidance, validation and certification of prior learning, and pathways for adults to obtain formal qualifications, delivered through Qualifica Centres across Portugal.
• National Qualifications Catalogue (Catálogo Nacional de Qualificações) Centralized reference catalogue organizing all qualifications, training profiles and education standards recognized in Portugal, used by training providers to structure their programmes and by learners to identify qualification pathways.
• Qualifica Centres Network (Rede de Centros Qualifica) National network of 309 centres providing in-person guidance, validation of prior learning, and certification services to adult citizens seeking qualifications across mainland Portugal and the autonomous regions.
• Double-Certification Courses Coordination (Coordenação de Cursos de Dupla Certificação) Coordination of vocational training programmes combining academic certification (secondary education) with professional certification, regulated under joint supervision of the Ministries of Education and Labour.
• SIGO - Sistema de Informação e Gestão da Oferta Educativa e Formativa Information and management system for educational and training offers, used by training entities to register and manage their vocational training provisions in alignment with the National Qualifications Catalogue.
• Passaporte Qualifica Personal qualification passport documenting an individual's qualifications, skills, and learning pathways, serving as a credential issued through the Qualifica Centres.

Quantifiable outcome

• 1.4 million+ enrollments in Qualifica Programme
• +3 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered minor, core and strategic.

• Conselho Nacional de Supervisores Financeiros (CNSF)minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 16 September 2024Joint organizer of the 'Concurso Todos Contam' financial education competition in schools, alongside Banco de Portugal, ASF, CMVM, DGE, and ANQEP as jury member.
• EQAVET (European Quality Assurance in Vocational Education and Training)coreTechnology or IntegrationANQEP serves as the National Reference Point for EQAVET, implementing measures that promote quality assurance in vocational education and training at national level. EQAVET is the European Reference Framework for Quality Assurance in VET.
• ECVET (European Credit System for Vocational Education and Training)coreTechnology or IntegrationANQEP serves as the National Contact Point for ECVET, implementing guidelines for transfer, recognition and accumulation of learning outcomes in a context of European mobility for obtaining qualifications.
• EPALE (Electronic Platform for Adult Learning in Europe)coreTechnology or IntegrationANQEP serves as the National Support Service (NSS) for EPALE since 2014, coordinating platform activity in Portugal, contributing to content creation and publication, and stimulating debate within the adult education community.
• European Qualifications Framework (EQF)coreTechnology or IntegrationANQEP serves as National Coordination Point for EQF implementation across all qualification levels in Portugal. Coordinates referencing of national qualifications to the European framework with Directorate-General for Higher Education for levels 5-8.
• European Commission (EACEA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerANQEP coordinates implementation of the European Agenda for Adult Learning through a project supported by the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA).
• European Association for the Education of Adults (EAEA)strategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerEAEA provided technical assistance for the development of Portugal's National Plan for Adult Literacy, supporting structural reform implementation.
• OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOECD promotes the Programme for the International Assessment of Adult Competencies (PIAAC), with ANQEP providing logistical and administrative support for Portugal's participation. OECD also contributes to Quality Assurance in Adult Education project.
• DGERT (Direção-Geral do Emprego e das Relações de Trabalho)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDirectorate-General for Employment and Labour Relations, a key ministry partner. ANQEP coordinates on EQF levels 5-8 with DGES. DGERT certifies training entities within the National Qualifications System.
• IEFP (Instituto do Emprego e Formação Profissional)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInstitute for Employment and Vocational Training is a key partner managing vocational training centres and apprenticeship courses. Part of the joint supervision structure following ANQEP's extinction.
• Directorate-General for Higher Education (DGES)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoordinates with ANQEP on European Qualifications Framework articulation for levels 5-8, covering higher education qualifications.
• Erasmus+ National AgencystrategicGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership for ECVET implementation and European mobility programmes in vocational education and training.
• Direção-Geral da Educação (DGE)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDirectorate-General for Education is a key ministry partner for implementation of vocational and professional education programmes.
• CEDEFOP (European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training)strategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerEuropean centre providing expertise on vocational training. Partner in ECVET Network and VET policy development.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• ANECA (Agencia Nacional de Evaluación de la Calidad y Acreditación): Spain's national agency for quality assessment and accreditation of higher education, with a broader remit than ANQEP. Comparable as an Iberian peer performing external quality assurance and qualifications framework referencing within the EHEA and EQF.

Direct peers

• France Compétences: France's national public body overseeing professional qualifications (Répertoire national des certifications professionnelles) and funding vocational training. Directly comparable to ANQEP in regulating and financing the national qualifications ecosystem.
• Qualifications Wales: Welsh regulator responsible for the Credit and Qualifications Framework for Wales (CQFW). Directly comparable to ANQEP in regulating qualifications and ensuring framework alignment with the EQF.
• SQA (Scottish Qualifications Authority): Scotland's national body for qualifications and accreditation, maintaining the Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF). Comparable to ANQEP as a national qualifications authority managing framework levels and certification across academic and vocational pathways.
• IEFP (Instituto do Emprego e da Formação Profissional): Portugal's public institute for employment and vocational training, and one of the three successor bodies absorbing ANQEP's attributions. Comparable as a domestic counterpart operating vocational training centres and apprenticeship courses.
• EduQA (Instituto da Educação, Qualidade e Avaliação): Portugal's newly created Institute of Education, Quality and Evaluation, absorbing ANQEP's attributions on youth vocational and artistic education. Directly comparable as a national education quality and assessment body in the same Portuguese system.
• QQI (Quality and Qualifications Ireland): Ireland's state agency for quality assurance of education and training, responsible for the National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ). Directly comparable to ANQEP in maintaining the NQF and external quality assurance across further and higher education.
• Ofqual (Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation): England's regulator of qualifications, examinations, and assessments. Comparable to ANQEP as a national qualifications framework authority that sets standards and regulates awarding organisations and qualifications within a national education and training system.
• BIBB (Federal Institute for Vocational Education and Training): Germany's federal research and policy advisory institute for VET, supporting the German Qualifications Framework (DQR). Comparable to ANQEP in coordinating VET research, framework development, and dual-certification pathways at national level.

Others

• CEDEFOP (European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training): EU agency providing research and policy advice on VET across Member States. Comparable to ANQEP in shaping European VET policy and supporting EQF/ECVET/EQAVET implementation, though operating at supranational level rather than as a national qualifications authority.

Market position

Strengths3 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/anqep
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@AnqepIp
• Facebookfacebook.com/ANQEP
• Instagraminstagram.com/anqep.ip/?hl=pt
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ag%C3%AAncia-nacional-para-a-qualifica%C3%A7%C3%A3o-e-ensino-profissional

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about ANQEP - Agência Nacional para a Qualificação e o Ensino Profissional