In today's globalised and multicultural scenario, education for all is emerging as one of the national and international priorities in line with the goals of the UN's 2030 Agenda, namely to ensure inclusive, equitable and quality education and to promote lifelong learning opportunities for all. With this in mind, the National Education Council (CNE) published a significant book highlighting the situation of children who, due to family or personal circumstances, are at risk of exclusion from the education system and society. In the same vein, Law no. 65/2015 of 3 July was published, establishing the universality of pre-school education for children from the age of 4, since Law no. 85/2009 of 27 August determined the compulsory education system and enshrined the universality of pre-school education for children from the age of 5. Added to this concern is the imperative need to create conditions that guarantee equal access to education and the acquisition of relevant learning, with particular attention to young people and the most vulnerable groups. With this in mind, the Polytechnic Institute of Lusophony's Higher Professional Technical Course in Accompanying Children and Young People aims to respond to the socio-educational, cultural and economic fabric's growing need for middle managers.

- Holders of the 12th grade or legally equivalent qualification; - Holders of professional courses; - Holders of CETs, CTeSPs or higher education degrees; - Over 23s - those who have passed the tests specially designed to assess their ability to attend higher education.

Train professional technicians who are able to design, organise and supervise educational activities for children and young people in different contexts, contributing to their cognitive, psycho-motor and socio-affective development.

Main competences to be acquired by students on the Higher Professional Technical Course in Accompanying Children and Young People: - Accompanying children and young people in their cognitive, psycho-motor and socio-affective training and development in different contexts; - Draw up and streamline socio-educational action plans suitable for children and young people in different socio-educational contexts; - Ensuring the well-being, hygiene and safety of children and young people and their integration into the operating rules of the institutions; - Implementing methods and techniques of socio-educational intervention, through socio-historical knowledge, enabling the construction of appropriate responses to each specific situation; - Participate in and support interdisciplinary teams working in institutions and educational spaces for children and young people, collaborating in the planning, development and evaluation of activities and projects; - Plan, manage and organise leisure activities; - Collaborating in the inclusion of children and young people with special needs, using educational strategies and resources that favour their integral development; - Managing interpersonal relationships in multicultural contexts, fostering interculturality; - Designing and applying creative solutions to problems that arise with children and young people.

Accompanying children and young people in: - Crèches and kindergartens; - ATLs: - Associations; - Social centres; - Reception centres; - Parish Centres; - Foundations; - Local councils; - Commissions for the protection of children and young people; - IPSS - Private Social Solidarity Institutions.