Higher Technical Professional Course in Nature and Rural Interpretation

To form professionals able to carry out, autonomously or under guidance, interpretation tasks of natural and rural areas (landscape, natural, rural and cultural heritage) in order to provide information about these areas, by means of guided tours, signalling and exhibitions, among others, at interpretation centres, companies working on nature activities, tourism activities, rural tourism, hotels or governmental institutions.

Holders of a higher education degree or equivalent;
Applicants approved in the examinations for people over 23 years;
Holders of technical or higher education degrees.

At interpretation centres, companies working on nature activities, tourism activities, rural tourism, hotels or governmental institutions:
• To design, collaborate and carry out activities to interpret the natural and rural resources of a region.
• To conceive, collaborate and carry out interpretative routes in natural and rural areas.
• To collaborate on research and monitoring projects related to natural and rural resources.
• To design trails for pedestrian routes.
• To collaborate in animation activities at enterprises / tourism companies.
• To communicate information about nature and the rural environment.
• To design environmental awareness activities.

Learning and evaluation languages: Portuguese

• To know the nature tourism activities and the tourism systems;
• To know, interpret and communicate information about the rural and the natural heritage, including classified areas, of the Portuguese territory;
• To identify areas of interest for interpretation and to evaluate their potential for carrying out activities in nature;
• To plan and carry out pedestrian trails in nature and in rural areas and to communicate interpretation in Portuguese and English;
• To know the construction and maintenance techniques, to plan the construction of trails and apply the rules for the approval of walking routes;
• To know the tools, means and techniques of communication and to adapt the language to the characteristics of the interlocutors;
• To plan and to carry out environmental awareness activities;
• To know the techniques of geolocation and orientation;
• To know the principles of business management;
• To plan activities and apply the requirements for the registration of activities of tourism entertainment;
• To comply with legal and regulatory provisions and good practices applicable to nature tourism activities;
• To create connections between the interests of an audience and the meanings inherent in the thing interpreted;
• To monitor and evaluate factors indicative of the sustainability of the use of a space;
• To collaborate in research and monitoring activities in natural and rural areas.

Licenciatura (Bachelor programmes)