SWitCH Dev? The postgraduate programme that re-qualifies you!

Aiming to retrain Information Technology (IT) graduates from different sectors of activity, the 8th edition of SWitCH Dev, promoted by Porto Tech Hub in partnership with Instituto Superior de Engenharia do Porto, promises to provide a successful career for professionals (with no previous experience), combating the shortage of talent.

Inês Maia, Vice-President, said in an interview that “it’s an investment in human capital, which gives employees an advantage in the face of a constantly changing employment landscape.”

Classified as a Postgraduate course, what ambitions or needs does SWitCH Dev align with?

As the technology market continues to grow, the demand for technological skills is a necessity for many companies, along with digital transformation. SWitCH Dev is an opportunity for those who want to immerse themselves in the world of Software Development without a background, or for specialists looking to deepen their knowledge.

According to a recent study by Manpower Group, Portugal is still the fourth country in the world with the greatest shortage of talent. How does the course prepare future professionals for the technology sector? What subjects are combined?

The talent shortage in Portugal has reached 81%, placing Portugal above the global average in this challenging scenario. Whether it’s due to strong international competition or a lack of training, this problem cuts across different sectors of activity – but is especially felt in the technology market. The Global Tech Trends Survey reinforces this idea, noting that 26% of Portuguese employers highlight the lack of technological skills in their workers. It is therefore crucial that companies begin to explore new talent bases to mitigate this problem, and one step in this direction is to invest in retraining.

This postgraduate course is a window of opportunity for integrating professionals into the sector: the course has already retrained more than 350 people and is now opening 32 places in its eighth edition. Acquiring knowledge of technology gives students a competitive edge, enabling them to respond to the demands of the recruitment market.

What skills does it offer?

Guided learning focuses on six main areas: software engineering and programming, methodologies, tools and support techniques, and agile development of software solutions in a business context. Taught using interactive learning methods, this course gives professionals the practical skills they need to enter the job market after completing the course.

Given the chance to take part in a paid internship, what challenges will the students be able to meet?

As well as being a gateway to entering a highly sought-after market, SWitCH gives participants the opportunity to take part in an internship at a company in Porto linked to Software Development. This 9-month internship allows students to put into practice the knowledge they have acquired, deepen their learning and consolidate knowledge, often already applied both in a team context and in product development.

With the skills developed on the course and in the internship, students are able to respond to new trends and the needs of companies and the sector, in a win-win scenario: people can change the course of their career, while companies can have a qualified response to high demand.

And what opportunities will you capitalize on?

Investing in retraining in Software Development opens up a range of professional options for roles such as back-end developer, full stack developer and front-end developer, which are just some of the possibilities for those who aspire to a future in tech. As well as a market with plenty of jobs on offer, a career in technology allows for career progression and competitive salaries.

On the other hand, after completing the course, students receive postgraduate certification from ISEP, as well as the possibility of a paid internship at one of Porto Tech Hub’s member companies, guaranteeing them a first contact with the world of work.

How can aspirants enter the programme?

Applications for SWitCH Dev are open until July 2, here. To apply, all you need is a completed degree in any field and a B2 level of English – a necessary requirement for both the course and a possible internship, which will be tested in the admissions process.

As traditional boundaries undergo unavoidable changes, socio-emotional skills are becoming a key criterion. What does the future hold for reskilling and upskilling? Are they the key to quality performance in the workplace?

Technological progress is disruptive and demanding, which naturally breaks and alters established patterns in the world of work. There is a lot of potential unlocked with reskilling and upskilling – but as the volatility of the sector continues, soft skills (interpersonal skills) are becoming more important. Investing in retraining is essential not only to fill the professional shortage felt in the market, but also to give professionals the ability to understand complex concepts and apply good practices.

Soft skills are a complement to technical skills, as well as helping to promote resilience, adaptability and team spirit in order to do the best job possible. Retraining is therefore an investment in human capital, which gives employees an advantage in the face of a constantly changing employment landscape.

What trends lie ahead in the coming years?

The creation of SWitCH courses came about as a way of responding to trends in the technology sector, such as artificial intelligence, cybersecurity and data, which are the areas most in demand in the current context. Although companies are increasingly concerned about hiring professionals with green skills, the demand for Software Development professionals remains high, which is why we need to continue implementing SWitCH.

That’s why we’re going to continue investing in the development of these courses, with a view to training professionals who are capable of understanding and dealing with the complexity of code and applying good practices, and not just completing automated and repetitive tasks.

Any advice?

If you’re applying for an opportunity in the technology sector, it’s important to have willpower, resilience and a sense of collaboration. Changing areas, resuming studies and starting a completely different work environment is a challenge. However, there is no shortage of success stories, with many of these professionals having no prior knowledge of technology. This course has a strong teamwork and collaboration component, which turns out to be a good fit for the business world, especially in software development.

Article by Maissuperior