The proper alignment between supply of Vocational Education and Training (VET) and labour market demand is critical to successfully achieve VET's main benefits, such as reduction of academic dropout rates, unemployment reduction and economic growth. This article presents the study carried out in Leiria region (Portugal) to define VET areas…

This research examines regional skill problems and the strategies adopted to reduce skill shortages by a set of employers (n = 16). The data collected in 2019 in a northern region in Portugal indicate considerable and persistent shortages of engineering and IT graduates and non-graduates for operational jobs. The employers implement anticipative…

Purpose: Higher education internships have been studied in different aspects, mainly from the student or university perspective. To contribute to the understanding of the third actor in this type of university-industry cooperation, the paper examines employers' perspectives on higher education internships. Design/methodology/approach: Through a…

This research examines the barriers and facilitators to employers' engagement with higher education institutions. The data were collected through interviews with a set of employers (n = 19) in the Northern region of Portugal, V.N.de Famalicão, in 2019. We begin by exploring employers' engagement activities as a potential solution to address…

Even though Critical Thinking (CT) is an important goal for higher education institutions and labour market professionals, studies dealing with employers' perceptions on CT meaning and envisioning in the workplace are scarce. Intended to tackle this gap, the current study provides an overview of the need for and practical application of CT in the…