Escola Profissional Amar Terra Verde

What Escola Profissional Amar Terra Verde does

Escola Profissional Amar Terra Verde (EPATV) is a Portuguese vocational education institution headquartered in Vila Verde, Braga, serving the rural Minho region of Northern Portugal across three municipalities (Vila Verde, Amares, Terras de Bouro/Gerês). Founded in 1993 under Decree-Law 70/93 by the municipal chambers of Vila Verde, Terras de Bouro, and Amares, and reorganized in 1998 as the quota company Amar Terra Verde, Lda, EPATV holds public utility status with pedagogical, administrative, and financial autonomy. Its core offering spans five course modalities: Cursos Profissionais (secondary-level vocational courses), Cursos de Educação e Formação (CEF), Educação e Formação de Adultos (EFA), Cursos de Especialização Tecnológica (CET), and Formação Modular Certificada, supplemented by Centro Qualifica (prior-learning certification) and Erasmus+ international mobility placements. The institution notably eliminated tuition fees and student transportation costs starting in the 2007-2008 academic year, removing economic barriers for disadvantaged students.

EPATV delivers education through a hybrid physical-digital model. On-site, it operates three campuses with workshops, laboratories, and vocational facilities aligned to areas such as programming, CNC machining, mechatronics, renewable energy, esthetics, hospitality, construction, and analysis laboratory. Digitally, it runs two Moodle LMS instances (one forprofessional teaching, one for adult education), Office 365 for productivity, separate student/teacher/staff portals, and the Plataforma Observatório de Empregabilidade — an employability observatory connecting graduates with regional employers and tracking labor-market outcomes. The architecture is a platform-plus-services model: classroom-based vocational training augmented by digital learning systems, career services, and European mobility programs (Erasmus+, Leonardo da Vinci). Certifications include EQAVET (European Quality Assurance in Vocational Education and Training) and consecutive Eco-Escolas Green Flag awards since 2008.

The business model is publicly funded rather than tuition-driven. Revenue derives from Portuguese Ministry of Education per-student funding, EU co-financing (notably PESSOAS 2030, Erasmus+), and contributions from the three founding municipalities. Customer segments are youth aged 15-25 pursuing vocational secondary education (primary), adult learners seeking retraining or certification (secondary), and regional employers and the local community benefiting from graduated talent and continuing education programs. The institution has 51 employees and is led by Director João Luís Nogueira, with Sara Leite as Subdirectora and the board of management chaired by Rui Silva. No revenue figures are publicly disclosed, and there are no recorded funding rounds, acquisitions, or external investors.

Name

Escola Profissional Amar Terra Verde

Legal name

Amar Terra Verde, Lda

Website

https://epatv.pt

Company type

Private

Founded year

1993

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Escola Profissional Amar Terra Verde (EPATV) is a publicly funded Portuguese vocational education institution serving youth and adults across three municipalities in rural Northern Portugal, offering tuition-free professional courses, adult education, and EU-funded mobility programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Vila Verde

HQ country

Portugal

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Escola Profissional Amar Terra Verde is a vocational education institution that delivers secondary-level professional courses, adult education programs, technological specialization courses, and certified modular training to students in Northern Portugal. Instruction is provided free of charge (no tuition or transportation fees since 2007) and combines classroom teaching with internships and the option of international mobility through Erasmus+. The institution operates three campuses in Vila Verde, Amares, and Terras de Bouro/Gerês, and supplements training with a Moodle-based learning platform, an Employability Observatory that connects graduates with regional employers, and a Centro Qualifica for recognition of prior learning.

Product overview

Escola Profissional Amar Terra Verde (EPATV) is a vocational education institution offering a comprehensive portfolio of educational products and services. The core offering consists of multiple course types: Cursos Profissionais (vocational courses for secondary students), Cursos de Educação e Formação (CEF), Educação e Formação de Adultos (EFA), Cursos de Especialização Tecnológica (CET), and Formação Modular Certificada. These are supplemented by digital platforms including Moodle-based learning management systems for different student populations, student and teacher portals, and the Podcast Qualifica-te. The institution also operates specialized service platforms including the Centro Qualifica (recognition of prior learning), Plataforma Observatório de Empregabilidade (employability observatory connecting students with job opportunities), and Erasmus+ international mobility programs. The overall architecture is a platform-plus-services model, where traditional classroom-based vocational training is enhanced by digital learning systems, career services, and international exchange opportunities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Cursos Profissionais (Professional Courses) Vocational secondary-level courses providing theoretical and practical training in technical areas such as programming, CNC machining, esthetics, kitchen/pastry, construction, electronics, mechatronics, renewable energy, and laboratory analysis, preparing students for technician certification and the job market.
• Cursos de Educação e Formação (CEF) Education and Training Courses for youth providing qualification pathways and professional skills development as an alternative to traditional schooling.
• Educação e Formação de Adultos (EFA) Adult Education and Training programs providing continuing education, professional qualification, and skill development pathways for adults, including evening course formats.
• Cursos de Especialização Tecnológica (CET) Technological Specialization Courses offering advanced technical training for higher-level professional qualifications, typically for post-secondary learners.
• Formação Modular Certificada Certified Modular Training programs providing short-term, certified professional skills courses that can be stacked toward full qualifications.
• Centro Qualifica Qualification Center offering recognition, validation, and certification of prior learning (RVCC), modular certification, and adult training programs for the regional adult population.
• Plataforma Observatório de Empregabilidade Employability Observatory Platform connecting EPATV students and graduates with regional employment opportunities through job posting registration and newsletter subscription services.
• Erasmus+ International Mobility Programs European Union-funded international mobility programs enabling EPATV students to undertake internships and exchanges in partner countries, including placements at top hospitality establishments.
• Acesso ao Ensino Superior Access to Higher Education program preparing vocational education students for entry into Portuguese universities and higher education institutions.
• Curso de Português Língua de Acolhimento Portuguese as a Foreign Language / Host Language course offered as part of the certified modular training portfolio for non-native speakers integrating into Portugal.

Quantifiable outcome

• Free education policy eliminates economic barriers for disadvantaged students

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Ministério de Hotelaria e Turismo de AngolaminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 13 March 2009Partnership protocol with Angola's Ministry of Hospitality and Tourism for future training projects in restaurant and tourism areas. First phase of training planned before summer 2009.
• Câmaras Municipais de Vila Verde, Terras de Bouro e AmarescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1993Founding municipal partners who established EPATV under Decree-Law 70/93. These three municipalities in Northern Portugal jointly promote and fund the school as a regional vocational education institution serving their combined populations. After restructuring under Decree-Law 4/98, the entity became Escola Profissional Amar Terra Verde, Lda.
• Escola Industrial dst – EPATVminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducational partnership with Escola Industrial dst (DST Group) for training and project collaboration.
• INAG - Instituto Nacional da ÁguaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration through the 'A História das Cheias em Portugal' national competition where EPATV students won first place. The institute promotes water resource education and awareness.
• Programa Eco-Escolas (Foundation for Environmental Education)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational environmental education program partnership spanning multiple years. EPATV participates in environmental audits, sustainability projects, and received the Green Flag Eco-School award. Focus areas include water conservation, waste management, energy efficiency, and climate change.
• PROSEPE - Clube da FlorestaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership through the EPANATURA Forest Club which participates in district forest clubs meetings and environmental education activities organized by PROSEPE.
• Universidade do MinhominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partnership for student visits and laboratory demonstrations. Technical Analysis Laboratory students visited the Health Sciences School, and the university's Department of Industrial Electronics participated in school technical events.
• Instituto de Educación Frei Martin Sarmiento (Pontevedra, Spain)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSpanish educational institution participating in EPATV's Electricity/Electronics jornadas, presenting on home automation (domótica) topics.
• Escola Fogasture (Valencia, Spain)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSpanish hospitality school partner for Leonardo da Vinci international mobility program. Directed students to top Michelin-starred restaurants for internships in Spain.
• ProviverminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal organization partnering with EPATV for 'Namorar Portugal' Valentine's Day activities and 'Fevereiro, Mês do Romance' events, promoting love and tradition-themed initiatives.
• ERP Portugal - Associação Gestora de REEEminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPortuguese association managing electrical and electronic waste (REEE) collection. EPATV participated in 'Geração Depositrão' campaign for appliance recycling.
• Centro de Saúde de Amares - Equipa de Promoção de SaúdeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHealth promotion team from local health center partnering with EPATV for student health education programs covering nutrition, family planning, disease prevention, and sexual health.
• Dr. Artur Eleutério MacedominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMedical doctor (internal medicine and public health specialist, former director of Centro de Saúde de Amares) providing sexual health education lectures at EPATV Amares delegation, including weekly 1.5-hour sessions covering anatomy, physiology, pathology, and disease prevention topics.
• Erasmus+ ProgrammecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEuropean Union mobility program enabling EPATV students to undertake international internships in various European countries. Students have completed placements at Michelin-starred restaurants and hospitality establishments across Europe.
• Leonardo da Vinci ProgrammecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEU vocational education mobility program predecessor to Erasmus+ through which EPATV selected students for international placements in European countries including Spain (Valencia).
• Amb3E (Escola Electrão)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEnvironmental organization managing the 'Escola Electrão' program for electrical and electronic waste collection. EPATV collected 4,496 kg of WEEE and participated in Switch Off closing event.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Regional players

• Tknika: Basque Country VET innovation center affiliated with the regional government's vocational training network. Comparable as an advanced vocational-education ecosystem operator, though operating in a different national market with stronger regional autonomy.

Direct peers

• ATEC - Academia de Formação: Portuguese vocational training academy run by Volkswagen/Autoeuropa, offering technical courses in electronics, mechatronics, automotive, and renewable energy. Comparable to EPATV's technical course portfolio with stronger industry-tied placement outcomes.
• Escola Profissional de Braga: Public-utility vocational school in the same Braga district, offering professional courses (Cursos Profissionais) and adult training (EFA) under the same D.L. 70/93 regime. Direct geographic and operating-model competitor for students in Northern Portugal.
• CENFIM - Centro de Formação Profissional da Indústria Metalúrgica e Metalomecânica: National industry-led vocational training center focused on metallurgy, machining, mechatronics, and electronics — directly overlapping EPATV's CNC, electronics, and mechatronics course portfolio. Targets similar youth and adult technical-learner segments.
• Escola Profissional do Porto (EPP): Vocational school in the Porto metropolitan area offering Cursos Profissionais and adult education under the same public-utility framework. Comparable operating model and course catalog to EPATV.
• Escola Profissional do Infante D. Henrique: Municipal vocational school in northern Portugal offering technical professional courses and adult training under D.L. 70/93. Closely mirrors EPATV's structure, governance, and course offerings.
• INETE - Instituto de Educação Técnica: Private professional education institution offering Cursos Profissionais, CET (Technological Specialization Courses), and adult training. Direct competitor for EPATV's secondary and post-secondary technical programs across Portugal.

Broad incumbents

• IEFP - Instituto do Emprego e Formação Profissional: Portugal's national public employment and vocational training institute, operating the largest network of training centers nationwide. Overlaps with EPATV's vocational and adult-education offerings but at national scale and as the dominant publicly-funded operator.
• Universidade do Minho: Major public university in the same Braga region, hosting EPATV's higher-education access programs and laboratory partnerships. Adjacent operator in the regional education ecosystem with overlapping student catchment.

Emerging players

• Escola Industrial dst – EPATV: Industry-academic partnership between EPATV and the DST Group, focused on construction and industrial training. Comparable as an emerging corporate-VET hybrid model targeting similar technical-learner segments.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/EPATVideo
• Facebookfacebook.com/EPATV
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/escola-profissional-amar-terra-verde
• Instagraminstagram.com/epatv.escola

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Escola Profissional Amar Terra Verde