Case Study: SENAI

Microlearning, characterized by brief, focused learning segments typically lasting 5 to 10 minutes, emphasizes skill development through targeted content delivery that reduces cognitive overload and enhances engagement via multimedia tools such as short videos, quizzes, and interactive elements (Majumdar, 2024). This method has demonstrated substantial benefits in vocational and technical education (TVET), including improved knowledge retention by up to 20% and better on-the-job performance compared to conventional training formats (Auf et al., 2024). In TVET settings, microlearning supports just-in-time learning integrated with practical work, leading to higher motivation and skill transferability, with studies reporting moderate to strong positive effects on academic and professional outcomes (Yusoff et al., 2024). A systematic review of microlearning applications highlights its efficacy in post-secondary and vocational contexts, particularly during disruptions like the COVID-19 pandemic, where it maintained high engagement levels in remote environments (Wang et al., 2020).

This case study investigates microlearning's potential at the Serviço Nacional de Aprendizagem Industrial (SENAI), Brazil's leading vocational training network for industrial sectors. By exploring SENAI's structure, we identify enhancements in processes, subjects, and jobs, with a special focus on policy training for staff and students to promote compliance amid ongoing labor reforms. Drawing on empirical evidence, this analysis illustrates how microlearning could bolster SENAI's contributions to workforce readiness and economic growth (Ocampo and Villarespe Reyes, 2017).

Overview of SENAI

Founded on January 22, 1942, through Decree-Law 4.048, SENAI was established as a private institution with national reach, funded by contributions from industrial employers to provide vocational training aligned with Brazil's industrial needs during a period of economic expansion (SENAI, 2022). Operating under the Confederation of Brazilian Industry (CNI) with administrative autonomy, SENAI's mission is to advance professional education, technological innovation, and industrial competitiveness, serving as Latin America's largest private network for industry-oriented TVET (Portal da Indústria, n.d.a). It delivers over 1,800 courses across 28 industrial areas, including mechanics, electronics, automation, and sustainable energy, through a network of more than 500 operational units nationwide (Portal da Indústria, n.d.b).

SENAI enrolls approximately 3 million students annually, primarily young adults and workers from diverse socioeconomic backgrounds, with programs emphasizing competency-based learning and partnerships with over 10,000 companies for apprenticeships (Portal da Indústria, n.d.a). Graduates achieve high employability, contributing to Brazil's manufacturing sector, which positions the country among the top 10 global manufacturers (AMFG, 2025). Internationally, SENAI has trained over 70,000 students in 11 countries across three continents, exporting its expertise in areas like robotics and green technologies (Portal da Indústria, n.d.c). Centers like SENAI CIMATEC in Bahia stand out as hubs for advanced research in engineering and innovation (Universidade SENAI CIMATEC, 2025).

Potential Applications of Microlearning at SENAI

Microlearning's adaptable, modular format complements SENAI's apprenticeship model, where theoretical and practical training intersect. Research in TVET contexts shows it facilitates concurrent education, improving competence gains by up to 25-30% through work-integrated modules (Auf et al., 2024). Below, we detail expanded applications, incorporating policy training to navigate Brazil's labor reforms.

Processes

SENAI's processes, often constrained by regional disparities, could be optimized via microlearning's rapid deployment. Apprentice onboarding, handling millions yearly, might feature 3-5 minute modules on program navigation, safety standards, and digital tools, accessible via mobile apps to curb early attrition rates of 10-15% (Training Magazine, 2025).

Instructor professional development for SENAI's 20,000+ facilitators could shift from extended sessions to micro-units on innovative pedagogies, yielding 40% higher application confidence as seen in similar vocational studies (Yusoff et al., 2024). Policy training is particularly relevant here: For staff, quarterly micro-modules on 2025 labor updates—like gender pay equity and gig worker rights—could use case scenarios to minimize compliance risks, mirroring corporate reductions in errors by 35% (OECD, 2021). For students, integrated sessions on workplace protections and anti-discrimination policies would build awareness, especially amid informality's rise, fostering ethical practices from the start. During the pandemic, microlearning in Hong Kong TVET sustained 90% engagement for policy dissemination, a model applicable to SENAI's hybrid setups (Wang et al., 2020).

Subjects

SENAI's practical curriculum benefits from microlearning's precision, especially in technical subjects. In mechanics and automation—enrolling hundreds of thousands—micro-modules as skill boosters for topics like machine maintenance could combat knowledge fade, with 360-degree simulations boosting performance by 17-35% in vocational settings (Klusmeyer and Billert, 2022).

Sustainable energy and IT programs, key to Brazil's green transition, might use offline-accessible micros on renewable tech or coding basics, bridging urban-rural gaps (AMFG, 2025). Soft skills like entrepreneurship, embedded in complementary courses, show 22% acquisition improvements via microlearning, vital for SENAI's employability focus (Silva et al., 2025).

Policy-infused subjects, such as labor relations in industrial trades, could incorporate micros on contract negotiations and rights under 2025 reforms, ensuring holistic training (The Legal 500, n.d.).

Jobs

Microlearning could elevate job roles at SENAI, prioritizing practical transfer. Instructors might access micros on inclusive methods or VR tools, increasing satisfaction by 28% in TVET development programs (Yusoff et al., 2024).

Administrative staff, overseeing enrollments across units, could use policy-focused micros on data privacy and fiscal compliance, adapting to localization trends (OECD, 2021). Apprentices in dual roles—SENAI's core, linking to thousands of firms—benefit from job-specific micros, like safety policies in manufacturing or environmental regs in energy, accelerating uptake by 35% (Klusmeyer and Billert, 2022; Ocampo and Villarespe Reyes, 2017).

For student mentors, micros on conflict policies would strengthen community, countering stigma (Emerald Insight, 2025).

Conclusion

Microlearning offers transformative opportunities for SENAI and similar institutions, refining processes like onboarding and policy training, enriching subjects from mechanics to sustainability, and enhancing jobs from instruction to apprenticeships. By leveraging evidence-based gains in retention and compliance, SENAI can address challenges like unemployment and reforms, solidifying its role in Brazil's industrial future (Auf et al., 2024; IBGE, 2025; Silva et al., 2025).

References

AMFG (2025) 'How education gets Brazil into the top 10 manufacturers', AMFG, 29 August. Available at: https://amfg.ai/2025/08/29/how-education-gets-brazil-into-the-top-10-manufacturers/

Auf, M. et al. (2024) 'Concurrent Vocational Education Through Microlearning Environments', International Journal for Research in Vocational Education and Training, 11(2), pp. 185–207. Available at: https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/EJ1426392.pdf

Deloitte (2025) 'Brazil economic outlook, August 2025', Deloitte, 29 August. Available at: https://www.deloitte.com/us/en/insights/topics/economy/americas/brazil-economic-outlook.html

Emerald Insight (2025) 'Overcoming inequalities: the social role of the federal institutes in Brazil', Education + Training, 4 June. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1108/ET-01-2025-0055 (Accessed: 11 September 2025).

Klusmeyer, P. and Billert, O. (2022) 'Vocational Training With Microlearning—How Low-Immersive 360-Degree Learning Environments Support Work-Process-Integrated Learning', IEEE Transactions on Learning Technologies, 15(4), pp. 519–532. doi: 10.1109/TLT.2022.3170025.

Majumdar, B. (2024) 'Microlearning: Enhancing Learning Retention and Engagement', Unboxed Training & Technology, 12 August. Available at: https://unboxedtechnology.com/blog/microlearning-enhancing-learning-retention-engagement/

OECD (2021) 'Improving skills to harness the benefits of a more open economy in Brazil', OECD Publishing. Available at: https://www.oecd.org/content/dam/oecd/en/publications/reports/2021/03/improving-skills-to-harness-the-benefits-of-a-more-open-economy-in-brazil_63a1cc9c/222c1741-en.pdf

OECD (2022) 'Engaging Employers in Vocational Education and Training in Brazil', OECD Publishing, 18 February. Available at: https://www.oecd.org/en/publications/engaging-employers-in-vocational-education-and-training-in-brazil_d76a2fe6-en.html

Ocampo, J.M. and Villarespe Reyes, V. (2017) 'The impact of SENAI's vocational training program on employment, formality, earnings, and labor turnover of Brazilian workers', The Quarterly Review of Economics and Finance, 65, pp. 225–235. Available at: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1062976916300576

Portal da Indústria (n.d.a) 'International Services', Portal da Indústria. Available at: https://www.portaldaindustria.com.br/senai/canais/international-services/

Portal da Indústria (n.d.b) 'SENAI has helped train more than 70000 students in 11 countries', Portal da Indústria. Available at: https://www.portaldaindustria.com.br/senai/canais/international-services/noticias/senai-has-helped-train-more-than-70000-students-in-11-countries-on-three-continents/

Portal da Indústria (n.d.c) 'SENAI in figures', Portal da Indústria. Available at: https://www.portaldaindustria.com.br/senai/canais/international-services/

SENAI (2022) 'TVET Country Profile Brazil', UNESCO-UNEVOC. Available at: https://unevoc.unesco.org/home/Dynamic%2BTVET%2BCountry%2BProfiles/country=BRA

Silva, A. et al. (2025) 'The Impact of Soft Skills Training on the Employability of Brazilian Youth', ResearchGate, 7 August. Available at: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/382724419_The_Impact_of_Soft_Skills_Training_on_the_Employability_of_Brazilian_Youth

The Legal 500 (n.d.) 'Overview of Developments in Brazilian Labour Law in 2024 and Prospective Changes for 2025', The Legal 500. Available at: https://www.legal500.com/doing-business-in/overview-of-developments-in-brazilian-labour-law-in-2024-and-prospective-changes-for-2025/

Training Magazine (2025) 'Microlearning: The Key to Capturing Workforce Learning Attention', Training Magazine, 22 June. Available at: https://trainingmag.com/microlearning-the-key-to-capturing-workforce-learning-attention/

Universidade SENAI CIMATEC (2025) 'The project', Universidade SENAI CIMATEC, 31 March. Available at: https://www.universidadesenaicimatec.edu.br/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/CPA-IA-PD-International-Call-English-Final-Version.pdf

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Wang, T., Towey, D. and Ng, P.T.M. (2020) 'Microlearning in Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET): A Case Study during the COVID-19 Outbreak in Hong Kong', ResearchGate, 20 June. Available at: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/357929157_Microlearning_in_Technical_and_Vocational_Education_and_Training_TVET_A_Case_Study_during_the_COVID-19_Outbreak_in_Hong_Kong

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