Sectet trains 40 new professionals in Gastronomy through the Forma Pará program
By the end of June, Forma Pará is expected to deliver 120 new trained professionals in Gastronomy ready to work in strategic areas of tourism and the appreciation of Pará cuisine
Residents of Mosqueiro Island, in the Guajará integration region, experienced a historic moment this Wednesday (11) with the graduation of the first class of technologists in Gastronomy through the Forma Pará program. The ceremony marked the achievement of 40 new professionals, trained for free through a partnership between the State Secretariat for Science, Technology and Higher, Professional and Technological Education (Sectet) and the State University of Pará (Uepa).
Focused on technical training in regional and international cuisine, the course was conducted entirely on the island, allowing access to higher education without the need to travel to the capital. By the end of June, Forma Pará is expected to deliver 120 new trained professionals in Gastronomy ready to work in strategic areas of tourism and the appreciation of Pará cuisine.
According to Professor Messias Furtado da Silva, project coordinator at Uepa, the initiative represents much more than qualification. “Bringing this training to Mosqueiro strengthens a fundamental productive chain for the region, tourism, and gastronomy. Training these professionals here is investing in the future of the island and in the self-esteem of its residents,” he emphasized.
The director of Forma Pará at Sectet, Fernando Queiroz, highlighted the social impact of the training. “This class is symbolic because it demonstrates that it is possible to ensure quality education and employability even in regions farther from major centers. Gastronomy is identity, and training here is also valuing what is ours,” he stated.
Among the graduates, the feeling was one of achievement. Carlos Henrique, who already works in restaurants in the capital, celebrated the accomplishment. “Mosqueiro needs this training. There are many talented people here who didn’t have the opportunity. Now we can showcase our cuisine with technique and confidence,” he said.
Graduate Marlucia Silva highlighted the pioneering nature of the class. “This was the only Gastronomy class in Mosqueiro so far, and it only happened thanks to Forma Pará. We faced many challenges, but today we celebrate this victory,” she said emotionally.
Created to bring higher education to the interior of the State, Forma Pará already offers technical and higher courses to various municipalities and districts in Pará where there is demand for professional qualification, through partnerships with institutions such as Uepa, IFPA, and UFPA.
The forecast is that by the end of June, the program will certify 120 new professionals in Gastronomy in Mosqueiro, further strengthening the island's tourism and gastronomy sector.
Text: Carla Couto – Ascom Sectet
