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CHAPTER 12
Guiding and counselling adults in Portugal: new opportunities for a qualification 237

qualification pathways, or low capability of the initiative to mobilise women.
In terms of age (Figure 12.4), there is a slight increase in the number of
older adults among candidates guided to RVCC processes. This trend mirrors
growth in the number of enrolments at new opportunities centres, showing
that the work being done is reaching its target audience – the adult population
of working age. It is in the group of over 44 that involvement of adults in the
initiative has proportionally grown.
From analysis of guidance in terms of candidatesʼ employment status
(Figure 12.5), there has always been a greater tendency towards shorter
training pathways (such as RVCC processes) among the employed. However,
guidance of the unemployed towards this training modality is increasing. This
change reflects, perhaps, increasing unemployment rates in Portugal which
has resulted not only from sector-based reconversion of the Portuguese
economy (which has been in effect since 2000), but also, over the past three
years, from the ongoing international economic and financial crisis which has
had repercussions in many countries around the world. This increase in RVCC
processes has also been due to specific measures aimed at reintegrating the
unemployed into the workplace by improving their educational and
professional qualifications through coordinated qualification and employment
measures. Data for enrolment rates at new opportunities centres show that
these centres started off by mainly attracting those in work and that it was only
later that the unemployed also began to enrol in increasing numbers.
These data also show a slight increase in the category ʻothersʼ among those
guided to RVCC processes. Given that most are retired people, this training
modality seems to be suitable to, and demanded by, adults outside the labour
market.
Analysing both gender and age group (Figure 12.6), of particular note is
the slight increase in the number of older women among candidates guided
to RVCC processes. The 2001 census data (INE, 2009) show a higher number
of low-qualified women among ageing groups, so accreditation of prior
learning (via RVCC processes) can be seen as a suitable choice of ageing
women to achieve higher levels of qualification.
In terms of age, there is also a progressive increase in the number of older
adults among candidates guided to training offers outside new opportunities
centres (Figure 12.7). This trend mirrors growth in the number of enrolments
at centres, and also shows growing preference of ageing workers for longer
and more structured training pathways (such as EFA courses). These older
workers are, in most cases, the least qualified, and therefore have to attend
more structured and conventional training programmes.