AN APPROACH USING A LOW-CODE PLATFORM FOR RETRAINING PROFESSIONALS TO ICT J. Metrolho 1 , R. Araújo 2 , F. Ribeiro 1 , N. Castela 1 1 R & D Unit in Digital Services, Applications and Content - Polytechnic Institute of Castelo Branco (PORTUGAL) 2 OutSystems (PORTUGAL) Abstract ICT (Information and Communications Technology) is a growing area with a growing demand for employees. However, there is a shortage of professionals in this area and integrated strategies are required to foster access to these areas and provide training to develop the necessary skills for more people. In this paper we present a short course that was designed to reskill unemployed people, mainly having already attained a higher education level in the area of the STEM (Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics), to be ICT professionals. After this training, trainees will have the opportunity to significantly increase the likelihood of being able to obtain employment in ICT areas. The course described involves public entities (including a higher education institution) and a private company, which is also a demonstration of synergies between academia and business. In the paper, the context that led to the appearance of the course, the fundamentals that supported the syllabus design, the partners involved, the objectives of the different subjects, the profile of the trainees and the results already achieved are described. To explain the fundamentals of the course syllabus we explain the most original features of the course regarding the usefulness of taking advantage of the abstraction allowed by the new low-code platforms, which seem to be appropriate and facilitator for retraining professionals from STEM to ICT. This approach, using a low-code development platform for retraining professionals to ICT, presents in our point of view, advantages over other approaches. In short, in the paper, we intend to share the work done during the design and follow-up of the course, as well as the preliminary results obtained in the meantime. Keywords: Low-code, education, ICT, retraining. 1 INTRODUCTION There have been many articles in the Portuguese and international press that warn of the growing need for ICT (Information and Communications Technology) professionals and the lack of professionals for the specific needs of the growing number of companies in this field. According to an article published in HR Portugal [1] that is based on the findings in the 2014 Labour Market Guide, the Hays Consulting's annual global study of employment and recruitment trends, the ICT market is increasingly dynamic and will continue to accelerate in 2019, both in recruitment volume, recruitment trends, preferences and has a high salary pressure, whereby it is the candidate who dictates the rules, as 68% of professionals in this area usually refuse some job offers. The same study, quoted in an article in the Expresso newspaper [2] indicates that ICT companies will be one of the big drivers for hiring in 2019, and also points out that there is a long history of shortage of profiles available in the market. The XXI Portuguese Constitutional Government, in its National Plan of Reforms, More Growth, Better Employment, Greater Equality, of April 2016, promotes the use of Information and Communication Technologies and Electronic within the curricula, aiming at the apprehension of learning practices based on new technologies, and introducing new skills. In this scope, the National Digital Competence Initiative e.2030, Portugal INCoDe.2030 [3], intends to position Portugal and the Portuguese citizens in the top group of European countries in digital competences in a horizon that extends until 2030, identifying and tackling three major challenges: generalize digital literacy, stimulate employability and professional training and specialization in digital technologies and applications, and ensure a strong participation in international R&D networks and the production of new knowledge in the digital areas. In the context of the first two challenges, the commitment to qualification is indispensable for the affirmation of a sustainable strategy for economic growth and social cohesion, recognizing the relevance of ICT training in the adjustment of qualifications to the requirements of a digital economy to Proceedings of EDULEARN19 Conference 1st-3rd July 2019, Palma, Mallorca, Spain ISBN: 978-84-09-12031-4 7200