The Polytechnic University of Guarda will start this academic year with a Higher Technical Professional Course in winotourism in Vila Nova de Foz Côa. The course results from a protocol between the educational institution and the local municipality, being taught at the facilities of the School Grouping Tenente-Coronel Adão Carrapatoso. The School of Tourism and Hospitality of UPG, based in Seia, is responsible for the training.
The main objective is to adjust the training to the real needs of the wine and tourism sector in the Douro, facilitating the integration of students in an increasingly competitive labor market. The mayor of Vila Nova de Foz Côa, Pedro Duarte, considers winotourism a fundamental and structuring area for the development of the municipality, as a complement of great added value for agricultural activity.
The rector of UPG, Joaquim Brigas, highlights that the participation of companies in the sector in the design and development of the course ensures, from the outset, the professional placement of students. The involvement of wine companies with winotourism projects of international reference is considered very significant for the training.
Among the participating companies are the estates of Vale Meão, Ventozelo, Reguengo, Pessegueiro, Terrincha and Monte Xisto, as well as Story House Hotel, Longroiva Hotel Rural, Quinta do Palato, Adega Cooperativa do Vale da Teja, Adega do Sável and the winotourism units of the Symington group.
