The Government authorised the investment at a Council of Ministers meeting held last Thursday, and the Algarve CCDR highlighted the importance of the decision for the region and for the short-term technical courses offered by the University of Algarve (UAlg).

In the area of Education, Science, and Innovation, the Council of Ministers announced on Thursday the approval of a decree authorising expenditure of approximately €7 million for the construction of the new building on the Gambelas campus, which, according to the CCDR, will be "supported by 60% of European Funds from the Algarve 2030 Program."

The Algarve regional organization indicated that the investment in question is financed by Algarve 2030 under the European Cohesion Policy Funds and will "diversify and strengthen the training offerings of Higher Technical Professional Courses (CTeSP) in the areas of the Algarve's Smart Specialization Strategy (EREI), responding to the challenges of the digital transition."

The CCDR clarified that the new building will feature "spaces for hybrid learning, an advanced computer lab, and sustainable technological equipment," improving the offerings offered to students in digital and technological courses.

The new facilities will primarily serve courses such as Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) or Higher Technical Professional Courses (CTeSP), "and with a strong practical component in the STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics) areas," it explained.

"The investment is part of the strategy to strengthen the higher education infrastructure network in the Algarve, which also includes, in the second phase, the construction of a new building on the future Portimão Campus, also supported by Algarve 2030, contributing to increasing the region's attractiveness, promoting territorial cohesion and qualifying human capital," the CCDR also considered.