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The spotlight is on Arquelau Pasta, SENAI/SC, Brazil.

Santa Catarina is a state in southern Brazil, with a long Atlantic coastline and several islands. It has a population of 7.6 million and is known for its beaches and mountains. Santa Catarina is home to SENAI/SC, the National Industrial Training Service (Servicio Nacional de Aprendizaje Industrial de Santa Catarina), the largest private education network in Latin America. SENAI/SC aims to help prepare students aged 14 to 60 for the job market, delivering technical training that will equip them with practical skills and specialized knowledge. More than 208,000 students attended SENAI/SC professional courses in 2024. Arquelau Pasta is a Professor in the Computer Science department, which has 27 units and 50 instructors. He has a bachelor's degree in Computer Science from the Blumenau Regional University of Santa Catarina, a master's in Data Mining from the University of Vale do Itajaí, a master's degree in Data Science from Leonardo Da Vinci University Center, and a specialized degree in education from the Santa Catarina Educational Society University. Apart from his work at SENAI/SC, he has since 2007 been course coordinator in computing and information systems at SOCIESC Blumenau, a vocational training institution in Santa Catarina state.

Oracle Academy: Can you tell us about SENAI/SC's membership in Oracle Academy?

Arquelau Pasta: SENAI/SC partners with Oracle Academy because its free resources integrate smoothly with our apprenticeship training curriculum. We became members in 2021 as a way to enhance our curriculum by giving students access to the technology tools and learning resources of a world-class technology vendor.

In my department, there are 50 teachers trained in Oracle Academy resources through self-learning. We attended online presentations and workshops and booked time in Oracle Academy Office Hours, scheduled sessions where we could ask questions and receive guidance on Oracle tools and its teaching methodology.

Regarding the classwork, we teach Database Programming with SQL, database administration, and the advanced features of the Oracle database. The Java curriculum aligns with our programming courses. The Oracle Academy Cloud Program helps us prepare students for the huge demand for cloud computing skills in the job market. We use it all.

One of the tools that students like a lot is MySQL Workbench, used for database design, SQL development, administration, and configuration of MySQL databases, to which we also have free access through our membership.

Incidentally, Oracle Primavera is also taught in SENAI/SC, in the project management department.

Oracle Academy: Can you give examples of projects created with Oracle APEX?

Arquelao Pasta: Oracle APEX has been invaluable in helping students to develop projects and to understand how Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI) integrates with Oracle Database and MySQL. Recently a group worked on an inventory management system for the warehouse of an e-commerce company. The final app included both a back end (using Oracle or MySQL) and a web-based front-end built with Java, with Oracle APEX gluing it all into a workable application.

In another example, from the faculty perspective, last year 38 of our teachers joined a week-long hackathon organized by SENAI/SC's professional development team in which we used Oracle APEX to develop applications that would boost student learning experience. The winning team came up with a solution for personalizing learning by using artificial intelligence to tailor content based on each student's individual performance.

This type of initiative not only encourages innovation in teaching, but also strengthens the SENAI/SC educational community, helping teachers to deliver more relevant classes.

In addition, in December I had the honor of participating as a speaker at the TDC 2024 Summit in Porto Alegre, 500 kilometers south of here, teaming up with Oracle Academy. It was an enriching experience to share knowledge and learn from so many talented professionals attending the event.

Oracle Academy: Do you encourage Oracle professional certification?

Arquelao Pasta: As a technical institute whose aim is to get people into the job market with demonstrable skills, certification is a priority. We are promoting Oracle certification in several categories: the Foundations and Fundamentals of Oracle Database and Java, as well as APEX and OCI. These are a great incentive for the students and for me too, as they give an official recognition of the knowledge acquired.

Oracle Academy: What kind of jobs can graduates expect?

Arquelao Pasta: SENAI is closely aligned with the needs of Brazilian industries, so its graduates tend to find employment in a wide array of sectors including manufacturing, automotive, energy, telecommunications, IT, and construction. They are highly sought after by companies looking for professionals with strong technical and practical training.

One of our students has gone so far as to set up his own start-up, focusing on outsourcing, and already has opened a branch in Los Angeles!

Oracle Academy: Overall how does Oracle Academy benefit SENAI?

Arquelao Pasta:I think the coolest thing about using Oracle Academy resources is that students have the opportunity to learn from the same tools used in the job market, which gives more credibility to their learning. They get really involved and have a chance to apply the concepts in a practical way. Oracle Academy connects classroom learning to careers, the reality of the market, opening professional doors.

And of course, we, the teachers, benefit from a huge range of materials and resources. The content is super well structured, which facilitates my planning and the organization of classes. In addition, Oracle Academy has a network of experts who are always willing to help with questions, which is critical to ensure we deliver classes accurately, stay up to date, and continuously improve our teaching methods.

But we must bear in mind another benefit to SENAI/SC and the community: there's a lot of bad influence around in society, which we want students to avoid. Oracle Academy contributes to ensuring secure employment, helping young people to get ahead in a tough world.

Oracle Academy: Thank you. And what do you like to do outside of SENAI?

Arquelao Pasta: When not teaching, I like to be with my family and friends. I particularly enjoy hanging out and relaxing on the wonderful Sata Catarina beaches. At home I love cooking — a churrasco grill, anyone?

Thank you, Arquelau Pasta, for your passion for Oracle Academy and for preparing your students to make a positive impact.