Turning Knowledge into Capital: How Adult Education and RVCC Unlock Community Entrepreneurship in Rural Territories

This study examines how Adult Education and the Recognition, Validation and Certification of Competencies processes (RVCC) can be strategically mobilized to activate human capital, foster local entrepreneurship and promote sustainable development in Almodôvar, a low-density rural municipality in the Alentejo region. Based on a qualitative and exploratory approach, supported by semi-structured interviews with 15 participants, including learners and programme promoters, and analysed through thematic analysis, the research repositions competency recognition as a strategic resource rather than merely an educational outcome. The findings show that structured learning pathways and the recognition of experiential knowledge function as catalysts for individual empowerment, increased employability and strengthened entrepreneurial confidence, generating human capital with relevance for local economic dynamics. At the community level, these initiatives reinforce trust-based cooperation networks and stimulate civic engagement, both essential for territorially rooted entrepreneurial ecosystems. However, structural barriers persist, including mobility constraints, scheduling rigidity and resource scarcity, which limit expansion, sustainability and overall impact.