The Instituto Politécnico do Cávado e do Ave (Polytechnic Institute of Cávado and Ave/IPCA) is a
public institution of higher education in Barcelos.
Created in 1994, the IPCA is the public higher education institution in Portugal that has registered the greater growth in the country. In recent years, the IPCA has been investing heavily in its facilities, by modernising and providing support services adequate to the proper functioning of the institution.
The IPCA offers undergraduate courses (1st Cycle) and Master's (2nd Cycle), Professional Higher Technical Courses (CTeSP) and non-degree courses (postgraduate, short courses or specialisation courses), in the daytime schedules, post-work schedules and distance learning.