This course, recognized by the PSP (authorization no. 122), is mandatory for practicing the profession of security director (Law no. 34/2013, of May 16, amended by Law no. 46/2019, of July 8) and structured in accordance with Ordinance no. 148/2014, of July 18, amended by Ordinance no. 304/2021, of December 17. It ensures solid training in the various aspects of private security, allowing participants to acquire a comprehensive view of all the techniques, processes and procedures developed by the sector in the diverse areas of activity in which it operates.
To enrich the course and consequently reinforce the training of its students, this institution offers an (optional) internship that represents the practical component in a real work context.
Furthermore, it includes some of the best professionals from the security forces and services, along with some of the most experienced security directors in Portugal, operating in a wide variety of fields, totaling more than forty instructors who teach the course. This also ensures the necessary subjects for a solid training of security liaison officers and contact elements of critical infrastructure operators, as foreseen in articles 17 and 18 of Decree-Law no. 20/2022, of January 28, which approves the procedures for identification, designation, protection and increased resilience of national and European critical infrastructures. To this end, the course dedicates a module to the subject.

With the exception of visits, for the convenience and safety of the students, classes are taught in person, but remotely.

Law 34/2013, of May 16, amended by Law 46/2019, of July 8, introduced the requirement that, in addition to entities that provide security services or organize self-protection services, those that own large commercial spaces and banking institutions must also have security managers.
Recently, Law 113/2019, of September 11, stipulates that security managers in sports venues with a capacity equal to or greater than 15,000 spectators, or where professional competitions are held or where the risk is considered high, must possess the training of a security director, as determined by the Laws for the security managers foreseen therein.
Decree-Law 8/2019, of January 15, which regulates the law on cannabis for medicinal purposes, and Law 35/2019, of May 24, which determines the security measures for establishments with dance spaces, also establish the requirement for successful completion of the security director course for security managers.
These regulations reveal the undeniable importance that the private security sector has assumed in Portugal, alongside a greater demand for quality services and greater accountability from its actors, to which the course provides the appropriate response.
The multiple functions and responsibilities assigned to the director and other security personnel, as established in the aforementioned laws, necessitate attendance at this course, framed by Decree 148/2014 of July 18, amended by Decree No. 304/2021 of December 17, but which goes far beyond the subjects and duration to which they are obligated. The course also qualifies them for the role of trainer for private security personnel training courses.
Therefore, the general objectives of the course are:

• To learn or update knowledge of the different tasks involved in security management and leadership, at their various levels and areas of operation;
• To learn or deepen knowledge of security resource management, enabling the full realization of its potential.

All those who work or intend to work in the area of ​​Private Security, or related to it, with particular relevance to the performance of the functions of security director, security liaison officer and/or contact person for the infrastructure of critical infrastructure operators, security manager of self-protection services, financial institutions, management entities of large commercial areas, cannabis farms for medicinal purposes, establishments with dance spaces, as well as security managers of sports venues or private security trainers.

Minimum academic qualifications: 12th grade or equivalent – ​​Ordinance No. 304/2021, of December 17th.

MODULES

1 – Introduction to private security – 31 hours – 6 ECTS
2 – Legal framework of private security – 12 hours – 2 ECTS credits
3 – Physical and electronic security – 12 hours – 1 ECTS
4 – Critical infrastructure – protection and increased resilience – simulated disaster response exercise – 7 PM – 3 ECTS
5 – People’s safety – 23h – 3 ECTS
6 – Information Security and Cybersecurity – 12 hours – 1 ECTS
7 – Fire prevention and protection – 13 hours – 2 ECTS
8 – Planning and management of private security – 94 hours – 12 ECTS
^{9 – Lectures and visits – 52h (1)}
10 – Practice in a real work context (optional) – 140h (2) – 5 ECTS

(1) Inclui formação, de três horas, ministrada e certificada pelo Banco de Portugal, acerca dos métodos de verificação da autenticidade da nota de euro e o combate à contrafacção, designada de “Conhecimento da nota de Euro”.
(2) O estágio decorre no final do curso

Alexandre Monteiro – Profiler – Deciphering People
Álvaro Santos – Security Consultant at the Lisbon Central Hospital Centre
Eng. Antônio Carvalho – Former Chief Coordinator of the Legal Department
Eng.º António Dias – former Director of Terminal Security at GALP in Sines
Eng.º António Neves Valente – Director of Security for the Lisbon Metro
Commander Antonio Varela – Former director at the Maritime Authority
Dr. Armando Martinho – Former Director of Security at Groundforce
Armando Pereira – International Consultant and Trainer in Physical Protection, Security and Emergencies in High-Risk Mining and Industrial Complexes
Major Artur Cerejo – Security Director of CP
Eng. Aurélio Carvalho – Manager, Security – Sonae Sierra
Eng. Baltazar Rodrigues – Former Coordinator of the PJ (Judicial Police)
Superintendent Bruno Torres – Private Security Department of the PSP (Public Security Police)
Dr. Carina Ferreira – Pedagogical Director of Fator X
Dr. Fernando Martins – Security Director of CTT (Portuguese Post Office)
Colonel Fernando Montenegro – Security Consultant/Special Forces Brazilian Army/Former Commander of the Rio de Janeiro Pacifying Force
Dr. Francisco Marques – Former Senior Technical Coordinator of the Presidency of the Council of Ministers; Master in International Relations.
Lieutenant Colonel Francisco Oliveira – ADSP Member and Security Director
Colonel Francisco Rodrigues – President of OSCOT and Former Commander of the Special Operations Unit of the GNR
Sub-Superintendent Hélder Freixedelo – Private Security Department of the PSP
Dr. Isabel Pais – Former Coordinator of the Critical Infrastructure Protection Area ANPC/EU Contact Point
Colonel Jara Franco – President of the Board of Directors of the Association of Security Directors
João Almeida – Security Director – RTP
Chief Superintendent João Ribeiro – Deputy National Director of the PSP (Public Security Police)
Master Jorge Batalha – DO – Consultant and Trainer in PDF
Dr. Jorge Mimoso – Head of the Sintra Municipal Police Division and former Chief Inspector of ASAE (Food and Economic Security Authority).
Eng. Jorge Pinto – Security Consultant/President of the Association for the Promotion of Information Security AP2SI
Dr. José Manuel Gonçalves – Director of the Prevention and Security Office at CGD
Dr. José Meneses – Security Director of Makro
Dr. José Martins – Senior Information Security Consultant
Eng. José Oliveira – Vice-President of the National Emergency and Civil Protection Authority (ANEPC)
Eng. Laura Silva – Commercial Director of Trablisa/Esegur
Eng. Leonel Salvado – Former Director of Security Services at NAVPortugal
Eng. Lino Santos – Coordinator of the National Cybersecurity Center
Dr. Luís Oliveira Martins – Chief Inspector PJ (former SEF)
Dr. Manuel Ribeiro – Former Director of the Municipal Civil Protection Service of the Lisbon City Council
Dr. Marcelo Monteiro – Senior Security Manager, Pestana Hotel Group
Dr. Marco Santos – Head of Security at EPAL
Eng. Maria José Reis – Security Consultant at the Ministry of Culture
Professor Dr. Eng.º Mário Lopes – Professor at Instituto Superior Técnico/Specialist in seismic engineering
Dr. Fernando Martins – Director of Security at CTT
Eng. Miguel Oliveira – Operation and Maintenance REN
Dr. Miguel Ramires – IP and Security Consultant
Colonel Mota Pereira – Head of the Accreditation Department of the National Security Secretariat
Eng. Nuno Azevedo – Deputy Director of Security at the Bank of Portugal
Lieutenant Colonel Dr. Rui Eusébio – Deputy Director of the Army’s Center for Applied Psychology
Dr. Rodolfo Pessoa – Manager/Auditor of Management Systems at Galp
Eng. Rodrigues Marques – Commander of the Navy
Superintendent Rui Fonte – Head of the Operational Area of ​​the Lisbon Municipal Police
Major Rui Pereira – Former Security Director of Sport Lisboa e Benfica and Sporting Clube de Portugal
Colonel Rui Pimenta – Director of Security and Trainer
Major Silvestre Machado – National Security Director of the AUCHAN Group
Simões Lopes – Former National Security Director of PROSEGUR
Dr. Tomás Ciríaco – Security Director of the Casino de Lisboa
Private Security Department of the PSP (to be designated)
Republican National Guard (to be designated)

“Regarding the 1st Edition of the Course, I am pleased to say that I participated with great pride as a trainee. From the outset, I considered the program content perfectly suited to the demands of the job, as well as the quality of the instructors, to whom I am grateful for all the knowledge shared during the course. The high standards and rigor throughout the training are the reasons why I strongly recommend this prestigious institution for this course to all those interested, and especially to those with a particular interest in the security field. Obtaining my certification significantly improved my professional situation, as I now work as Security Director at Redguardman Segurança Privada Ltda., a company where I previously served as Operations Director.”
Luís Miguel Ferreira da Silva

“The course was very good and comprehensive, since, according to the available hours, it covered and addressed the safety and security aspects, which complement each other in the context of comprehensive security. The topics covered were taught by professors with theoretical and practical knowledge of the subjects, which is always worth highlighting. It was extremely important for my professional development, allowing me to acquire skills that are extremely important for professional growth. Therefore, I commend and thank the School of Management and Business of UAL and the Association of Security Directors of Portugal for taking the initiative of this course, allowing access to this area of ​​knowledge.”
Mário Pinto – Director of the Security Department of a multinational distribution company.

“This postgraduate course was an investment in quality education for me; all the topics were covered very competently and seriously, without any lightness or ease. Thus, I can now say that the job opportunities are not a matter of chance, but rather the result of the recognition of the skills acquired, which have greatly enriched my resume.”
António Baptista

“When I enrolled in the aforementioned course, my main objective was to obtain professional certification. I was pleasantly surprised because this training proved to be much more intense, comprehensive, and useful than I could have imagined. I compare it to the equivalent Spanish training, which a colleague of mine from the bank took and which I visited, and I consider this one more suitable and complete for our reality. The added value of the course is, in addition to the acquisition of knowledge, a great deal of coaching on ethics and conduct for the security director, a perspective on the diverse realities of private security, and contact with trainers and trainees from many different backgrounds.”
Pedro Viana – Security Director of the Bank of Portugal

I want to thank the coordinator and the entire excellent team of trainers at UAL for all the knowledge and teachings passed on.
They will certainly be a valuable asset to my future career in the area of ​​private security as well as in training.
Thank you all for everything.
Paulo Alberto

I take this opportunity to thank you once again for your availability and commitment, coordinator and teachers.
I am certain that there will be no other training offer as complete as this one on the market, because, in addition to the unquestionable academic knowledge of the teachers, they possess the know-how of their professional experience, and that is unsurpassed.
Best wishes to you all, thank you and see you soon.
Paulo Patinha