Mestres do Digital enters a new phase and reaches more municipalities

The Mestres do Digital programme has entered a new phase of national expansion, with the aim of strengthening the population's digital skills and promoting safer, more independent use of digital public services.

Promoted by the Agency for Technological Reform of the State (ARTE), under the Digital Skills Pact, the initiative is reaching new municipalities following the results achieved during the pilot phase in 2025.

The new national rollout began in Maia on 17 April 2026 and will continue across different regions of the country over the coming months.

What Mestres do Digital is

The Mestres do Digital programme aims to equip citizens with the skills to use the digital space safely and independently, promoting the essential skills needed to access online public services and the State's digital tools. Sessions are free of charge, in-person, and open to all, with no prior experience required. Key topics covered include:

• Safe internet use and personal data protection;

• Activation and use of the Digital Mobile Key;

• Access to public services through the gov.pt portal and application;

• Development of essential digital skills for daily life.

From pilot phase to national expansion

In 2025, the pilot project held 38 sessions across different regions of the country, involving 1,665 participants and contributing to the activation of 516 new Digital Mobile Keys. Building on these results, the programme is now entering a new phase of expansion, strengthening collaboration between central Public Administration, municipalities, and local bodies.

The initiative forms part of the national digital upskilling objectives defined under the Digital Skills Pact and the Portugal Digital Strategy.

How sessions work

Sessions follow a practical and accessible format, focused on resolving everyday situations related to the use of digital services. Actions are developed in partnership with:

• Municipalities and parish councils;

• Citizens' Shops and Citizens' Spaces;

• Higher education institutions;

• Senior universities;

• Schools and local associations;

• Other nearby public spaces.

The aim is to ensure that training reaches diverse audiences across different parts of the country.

Continuous training through the NAU platform

Alongside the in-person sessions, ARTE provides online training through the NAU platform. The Mestres do Digital courses are organised into different levels — Explorer, Navigator, and Specialist — and can be taken free of charge, at any time and on any device.