On April 25th, Badajoz hosted Spain’s first-ever ECO-DIGITHON, a pioneering event organized by FPEmpresa and Innogestiona Ambiental under the umbrella of the ENNE+ (Erasmus+) European project. The event exceeded all expectations in terms of participation and results, establishing itself as a space for collaboration and innovation among Vocational Education and Training students, businesses, public administration, and educational institutions.

“We wanted to create an inspiring space to connect innovation, sustainability, and vocational training—and we have more than achieved that,” the organizers emphasized.

This initiative, co-funded by the European Union’s Erasmus+ program, has promoted youth creativity and strengthened collaboration networks to build a more dynamic, innovative, Vocational Education and Training, aligned with the environmental and occupational challenges.


Team Rankings and Award Ceremony

After an intense day of collaborative work, the participating teams exposed innovative proposals that were assessed based on feasibility, sustainability impact, and digitalization level.

The jury’s decision was especially difficult due to the high quality of the proposals submitted in this edition of the Eco-Digithon. The evaluation panel, made up of Patricia Mora (Director of Innogestiona Ambiental), Elena Argudo (Director of FPEmpresa), Daniel Villa (Technical Advisor for Teaching at the Vocational Training Service of the General Directorate of Vocational Training, Innovation and Educational Inclusion of the Junta de Extremadura), and Carolina Romero (Project Technician at Fundecyt-PCTEX), carefully evaluated factors such as innovation, social impact, and project viability.

The jury announced its verdict virtually on April 28th, and although the competition was tight, Muévetex (IES Sierra La Calera) received the first prize thanks to an innovative digital platform designed to improve sustainable mobility in rural areas—tackling one of the region’s major connectivity challenges. The jury highlighted the project’s strong connection to real community needs, high social impact, and immediate applicability, which earned it the top spot in this edition of the Eco-Digithon. As a reward, the winning team will participate in the 9th Social Hackathon Umbria in Italy this July and will receive €1,000 in equipment and a €250 gift card for the coordinating teacher(s) and community representative.

Another three schools were also awarded for their proposals. The final clasification has been as follows:

 Rank Team Project School Award
🥇 1st Team 8 Muévetex: Digital platform to improve access to rural transport IES Sierra La Calera Participation in the 9th Social Hackathon Umbria (Italy, July 2025)
€1,000 in materials for the school
€250 gift card for coordinating teacher(s) and community representative
🥈 2nd Team 5 Little Big Friends: Connecting the elderly with the young IES Francisco de Orellana €750 in materials for the school
🥉 3rd Team 10 Sustainable garden made with recycled materials and low water consumption IES Javier García Téllez €500 in materials for the school
4th Team 9 Sustainable urban transport: Monitoring freight vehicles IES Ágora €300 in materials for the school

Note: To view the remaining projects, you can do so here.

Roundtable: Dual Vocational Training as a Driver of Employability

As part of the ECO-DIGITHON program, a roundtable discussion on Dual Vocational Education and Training was held, bringing together prominent figures from public administration, the business sector, and education to discuss the challenges and opportunities of Dual VET in Extremadura. During the session, participants addressed key issues in the education sector and shared potential solutions and strategies for tackling today’s challenges.

Key Participants:

  • Pedro Antonio Pérez Durán – Director General of Vocational Training, Innovation, and Educational Inclusion, Junta de Extremadura.

  • Juan Carlos Castaño Carpintero – Training Director, Cámara de Comercio de Cáceres.

  • Pilar Apolo – Regional Coordinator for FPEmpresa in Extremadura.

  • Moderator: Patricia Mora, Director of Innogestiona Ambiental.

During the debate, the strategic role of Dual Vocational Education and Training in boosting youth employability and aligning education with real labor market needs was highlighted. Participants also presented the main updates introduced by the Ley orgánica 3/2022, which has transformed the vocational training system in Spain. The new structure is organized into five progressive levels (A to E), offering a more flexible and adaptable model. This framework enables students to move from micro-credentials to high-level specialization courses equivalent to a master’s degree, creating more personalized and relevant learning pathways tailored to professional demands.

The Asociación de Centros de Formación Profesional FPEmpresa, has reached a total of 700 member centres after 13 years of activity. Founded in 2012, FPEmpresa now forms a network of educational centres with representation in all Spanish Autonomous Communities, with the aim of promoting Vocational Education and Training (VET). Over the years, the Association’s activities and partnerships have increased, establishing close relationships with various companies and public entities, and becoming part of international organizations such as EfVET and WFCP. These alliances strengthen FPEmpresa’s commitment to advancing VET, fostering collaboration, and encouraging the exchange of experiences and best practices.

“It is a source of pride for all of us to have reached 700 member centres,” said Luis García, President of the Association. “For an organization like ours, whose goal is to position VET as a first-choice pathway, it’s very important that our voice is supported by an ever-growing number of centres,” he stated. He also emphasized that “with this number of affiliated centres, our relevance as drivers and spokespersons for VET becomes clear, along with the shared belief in the importance of working together to go further.”

With this growth, FPEmpresa has consolidated itself as a meeting point for VET centres, companies, and students, and was awarded the Placa de Honor de la Orden Civil de Alfonso X el Sabio in 2019 by the Ministry of Education and Vocational Training.

Activities and Initiatives to Promote VET

The growth in membership can largely be attributed to the wide variety of activities and initiatives in which the Association actively participates. Among these are calls for innovation projects and VET-oriented initiatives launched in collaboration with CaixaBank Dualiza. This year, the 7th edition of the Ayudas Dualiza has allocated over €400,000 to educational centres. Similarly, Dualiza Orienta has developed workshops, experiences, and activities that encourage creativity and promote the opportunities offered by vocational training.

In partnership with Grupo Esprinet, FPEmpresa also runs the Premios Transferencia de Conocimiento, which highlight female talent in VET programs where women are underrepresented. The Association also delivers training on sustainability in collaboration with Innogestiona, and fosters collaboration among centres through the Escuelas que Inspiran’ project with Fundación Exe. Additionally, FPEmpresa is part of Alianza por la FP, an initiative promoted by the Ministry of Education and Vocational Training to strengthen the network of shared responsibility and support the transformation of vocational education.

Currently, FPEmpresa is organizing the 11th VET Congress, held in Cartagena under the theme “Sharing Experiences: The Implementation of the New VET Law.” Since 2014, this event has gathered more and more professionals and educators from across the country to discuss the most relevant issues in the sector.

The Asociación de Centros de Formación Profesional, FPEmpresa, and CaixaBank Dualiza, in collaboration with the Región de Murcia and the City Council of Cartagena and with the participation of the Fundación Orange, brought together more than 1,300 teachers and education professionals at the 11th VET Congress “Sharing Experiences: The Implementation of the New VET Law.” Held on April 3rd and 4th at the Auditorio El Batel in Cartagena, the event marked a record attendance for the Association, which is now firmly established as a benchmark in the educational community, with 700 member centres across Spain.

The event was inaugurated by Luis García, President of FPEmpresa, and Paula San Luis, Director of CaixaBank Dualiza, as well as Esther Monterrubio, Secretary of Vocational Training at the Ministry of Education, Vocational Training and Sports, Noelia Arroyo, Mayor of Cartagena, and Víctor Javier Marín, Minister of Education and Vocational Training of the Region of Murcia. Their speeches served as a welcome to the attendees, who were then able to enjoy panel discussions on the new legislation, challenges in the education sector, and the implementation of sustainability and digitalization modules. Attendees also had the opportunity to visit VET centres and companies in the region. Furthermore, the Congress hosted 23 exhibiting companies with informational stands offering new programs and innovative resources for interested participants.

The event concluded with the announcement of the next VET Congress, which will be held in Cantabria. A video message from the Mayor of Santander, Gema Igual Ortiz, was shown to share the news. Finally, Sergio Silva, Minister of Education, Vocational Training and Universities of Cantabria, commented on the current moment full of challenges in vocational training: “We are overcoming all these challenges because we are addressing them, tackling them, and we will continue to overcome them collaboratively.” In the closing remarks of the 11th VET Congress, the minister emphasized the importance of collaborative work and how FPEmpresa “represents a way of working, of opening up to others, of sharing experiences and learning from the strengths of others.”

After three editions, over 1,000 participants, 135 projects, and €36,000 awarded, the Premios Transferencia de Conocimiento de la FP are back for their fourth edition, organized by the Asociación de Centros de Formación Profesional FPEmpresa and Grupo Esprinet. The submission period opens from February 12, 2025, until February 27 of the same year.

The aim of the call is to raise the visibility of women in professional fields where their presence is minimal; in many of these fields, their representation does not exceed 5%, as is the case in areas such as Manufacturing and Mechanics, Installation and Maintenance, Energy and Water… This edition adds the professional fields of Image and Sound, as well as Extractive Industries, two areas where female enrollment is very low. Additionally, this 4th edition introduces a new feature: a second third-place prize, meaning more vocational training centers and teams will receive financial recognition for their projects.

The participating teams must be related to professional fields in Vocational Training where there is a gender gap and must consist of 50% female students or be led by female instructors from these professional fields.

Development and Requirements

On March 6, 2025, at 11:00 AM, the challenge will be presented in an online event that all participating teams must attend. These teams will have until March 27, 2025, to submit a video of no more than 3 minutes, clearly and concisely presenting a technological solution to the challenge. The proposal must also contribute to achieving at least one of the Sustainable Development Goals beyond gender equality. Additionally, they must prepare a list of materials and resources required to implement the solution. The winning teams will be announced on May 30, 2025.

The annual collaboration will conclude with two training sessions that maintain a strong commitment to enhancing the knowledge of Vocational Training students in an increasingly digitalized environment. Through one-hour online sessions, FPEmpresa will organize these initiatives, where experts from Grupo Esprinet will share their knowledge and experience.

Through these awards, not only are the objectives proposed by the 2030 Agenda for social justice and inclusion followed—particularly those focused on gender equality—but also digitalization is promoted, and the connection between students and the real-world business environment is fostered through collaboration with Grupo Esprinet.

CaixaBank Dualiza, Empieza por Educar, and the Asociación de Centros de Formación Profesional FPEmpresa have launched ‘La Básica’, a web platform dedicated to promoting collaboration among teachers of Basic Vocational Education and Training (VET). This platform was created with the purpose of establishing a reference network for Basic VET educators in Spain, providing them with resources, training, and access to successful methodologies to improve their teaching practice.

‘La Básica’ aims to offer a space where teachers can find successful projects developed by other VET Basic Centers, adaptable learning methodologies for various educational contexts, and inspiring experiences from other educators to enrich their daily work.

This tool emerged after the success of the FPB En Red Congress, where hundreds of Basic VET teachers expressed the need for an exclusive space for their educational modality. This event highlighted the importance of giving visibility to teachers and providing them with additional tools for their work in VET Basic Degrees, a critical training to help students at risk of dropping out of school.

The current state of VET Basic Degrees in Spain

Although Basic VET has an almost 40% dropout rate, according to the recent 2024 report on VET studies in Spain by the Vocational Training Observatory, until now there has been no specialized network for sharing practices and resources among educational centers. The platform presents itself as the solution to this need, providing a supportive community and continuous resources throughout the year.

All content available on the platform focuses on eight key elements to drive improvement in VET Basic Degrees: improving the school climate, teaching staff cohesion, educational leadership, effective teaching, enhancing personal skills, maintaining high expectations, connecting centers, and providing proper personal guidance. These elements are part of the social mission of the platform and the commitment of CaixaBank Dualiza, Empieza por Educar, and FPEmpresa to help VET Basic Degrees teachers.

Website Features

‘La Básica’ offers a variety of useful resources for VET teachers:

  • Reference centers: a selection of centers that have implemented successful practices in VET Basic Degrees.
  • A compilation of good practices and projects developed by different VET centers.
  • Guides and specific resources created by reference centers for them to be used in other schools.
  • Online training to help teachers develop projects that positively impact their students’ education.
  • An inter-center mobility program: it allows teachers to undertake training stays to observe practices at reference centers in VET Basic Degrees.

The platform is freely accessible with registration and is free to use. It allows teachers to access additional training and activities to enhance the educational experience in VET Basic Degrees across Spain.

Join ‘La Básica’ by clicking here.

CaixaBank Dualiza and the Asociación de Centros de Formación Profesional FPEmpresa have opened the registration period for the Active Guidance Call, which has been renamed the Dualiza-Orienta Call. This initiative aims to support active guidance projects from educational centers towards Vocational Education and Training (VET).

The call is directed at strengthening support for guidance actions towards VET that will be carried out during the first semester of 2025, specifically from March 1 to June 30, 2025.

Thus, any public, private, or semi-private educational center offering regulated VET education in the country can participate in the Call.

Paula San Luis, Director of CaixaBank Dualiza, highlighted “the commitment of the organizing entities to guidance activities, a key pillar in education to facilitate the creation of appropriate educational paths for individuals, but above all, so that these paths are built from the choice made once all available options, including VET, are known. Guidance is one of the fundamental levers to reduce early school dropout and optimize the educational system.”

Luis García Domínguez, President of FPEmpresa, expressed that “the future of Vocational Training and Education depends on how we guide people toward market opportunities. Guidance should be seen as a dynamic process, where not only is information provided, but also inspiration. From the Association, we will continue promoting initiatives that allow young people to make educational decisions that open doors to their personal and professional development in a changing environment full of possibilities.”

Similarly, as the new VET law recognizes, it is necessary to acknowledge the work of counselors in facilitating the creation of a flexible educational path, linked to Vocational Education, that adapts to each individual’s profile and circumstances.

The projects can be directed towards any of the Professional Families offered for the 2024/2025 academic year, with priority given to those related to the STEAM field or sustainability and rural development.

This call aims to encourage new female vocations in industrial technical professions, related to new technologies and STEAM professions (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Design, and Mathematics).

The guidance actions, evaluated by the Evaluation Committee, that are selected will receive a financial grant of up to a maximum of 2,500 euros. The selected projects will be announced in the first half of March 2025.

The goal of this call is to promote guidance actions that foster a better and broader understanding of VET among primary, secondary, and/or high school students, where VET centers play an active role and can count on support from companies.

The application submission period will run from January 13 to February 3, 2025, and applications should be submitted through the website www.caixabankdualiza.es.

For any further inquiries, you can contact via email at orientacionactiva@fpempresa.net.

The Asociación de Centros de Formación Profesional FPEmpresa, held follow-up sessions for the ENNEPlus project – Enhancing VET National Networks Through Ecoinnovation on January 15 and 16 which this year, 2025, will mark the first edition of the Eco-Digithon in Extremadura. The event took place at IES Clara del Rey (Madrid), a partner center of FPEmpresa, and included participants from Austria, Portugal, Italy, Belgium, and Spain, represented by FHJoanneum and WKO Steiermark, ART&SKILLS, APEMETA, EGinA, Sereco, Innogestiona, All Digital, and EfVET.

The first edition of the Eco-Digithon will focus on eco-innovation, emphasizing technology and digitalization in areas such as the circular economy, water quality, and renewable energies, among others. The initiative aims to address real societal problems by developing ideas and prototypes that create a positive impact on society and contribute to a more sustainable future.

Innovative projects with social relevance

During the sessions held in Madrid, emphasis was placed on the social, digital, and ecological aspects. Discussions focused on the innovative nature of the proposals, ensuring that each one differenciates themselves from existing projects and are applicable to the real world while aligning with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The ultimate goal of the Eco-Digithon is to work closely with vocational training centers, break down barriers, and create eco-innovative communities by connecting students and teachers with other centers.

The conversations ensured coordination and collaboration among project partners, as well as the quality of the plan and its proper implementation and development in the participating countries.

The winners of the Eco-Digithon will have the opportunity to participate in the 2025 Social Hackathon Umbria with experts in green technologies to develop their eco-innovative solutions and will be evaluated by an international jury that will select the best Eco-innovative VET team of the edition.

The Asociación de Centros de Formación Profesional FPEmpresa has hosted members of the SiT Project (Sustainability in TCLF) in Madrid on November 13 and 14 of 2024, for the second project meeting. The IES Leonardo Da Vinci, an FPEmpresa-affiliated VET center, has served as the venue for this European meeting, where attendees observed the work of students specializing in Textile, Clothing and Leather studies, as well as their workshops featuring dyeing and fiber production machinery. Elena Argudo, Project Director at the Association, has emphasized “the importance of hosting the visit at a member center with such a rich history and commitment to international initiatives as IES Leonardo Da Vinci.”

Progress Updates and Achievements

During the sessions, project partners have provided updates on various work packages and the current status of each. Specifically, it was announced that the project successfully has secured 147 organizations as signatories to the Knowledge Triangle Agreement, aiming to foster effective collaboration between educational institutions, businesses and research centers—a cornerstone of the SiT project.

Additionally, it was revealed that over 625 companies and 90 vocational training centers has participated in a survey to identify the skills gap and training needs of vocational students in the textile sector. The survey results has highlighted two emerging professions, which will be the focus of new training curricula within the project. These professions, Biotextiles Technician and Waste Manager, are projected to play a crucial role in driving the ecological transformation of the industry.

Next Steps in the SiT Project

A significant part of the program has focused on upcoming actions within the SiT project. This November marks the start of Work Package 3, which will focus on curriculum and module development, as well as the creation of a network for certification, validation, recognition and accreditation of the training programs. The goal of these materials is to implement a MOOC (Massive Open Online Course) to enhance accessibility and impact within the textile sector. The MOOC is set to be developed throughout the coming year.

In addition, attendees has enjoyed an English-language tour of Madrid, led by VET students in Tourism Guidance, Information and Assistance from the Madrid School of Hospitality and Tourism as part of their practical training.

About the SiT Project

This initiative, coordinated by ITKAM – Italian Chamber of Commerce for Germany, is part of the Erasmus+ funding program Alliance for Innovation and will run until January 31, 2027. The SiT project involves 15 partners from 8 European Union countries: Germany, Italy, Spain, Greece, Bulgaria, Croatia, Estonia and Slovakia.

The project’s objectives include promoting innovation in education, training and the textile, clothing, leather and footwear sectors. It focuses on the potential of the green transition and developing new training modules in educational institutions to address gaps in green skills.

The Asociación de Centros de Formación Profesional FPEmpresa took part in the 33rd EfVET Annual Conference held in Amersfoort, Netherlands, from October 23 to 26. Titled “Training Generation Z: New Horizons for VET”, the event aimed to discuss ways to prepare young people for the job market and the new skills needed for future professions. Javier Serrano, FPEmpresa’s regional coordinator for Andalusia, IES La Zafra school’s teachers and EfVET treasurer, has stated that “the event is an important meeting point to build new networks, learn about projects being developed in other countries, and introduce new dynamics to national VET.”

More than 320 experts, educators, and international VET professionals gathered to explore how the next generation of students can prepare for the future job market. Serrano highlighted “the potential new generations bring to innovation”. “As digital natives exposed to international culture, they become highly proficient with digital tools”, has added.

Leerhotel Het Klooster, a hotel school run by VET students, served as the venue where attendees could share their ideas, projects, and experiences.

EfVET’s Vision for VET

Joachim James Calleja, president of EfVET, has emphasized in his opening speech the three key pillars for the future of VET. First, he stressed “the importance of focusing programs on emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, machine learning, and cybersecurity, as Generation Z understands that these skills will be crucial for their career development”. He also has highlighted “the entrepreneurial spirit of this generation, which aspires to create its own businesses, making it essential for VET to foster management and innovation skills”.

Finally, Calleja has addressed “the relevance of global competence, promoting international exchanges, language learning, and intercultural skills for a generation increasingly aware of globalization”.

Development of the EfVET Annual Conference

The Annual Conference tackled the challenges of future jobs, skills, and qualifications, providing attendees and the VET ecosystem with concrete tools to successfully adapt to new educational and training realities.

Internationalization in VET, focusing on building strong local business networks; well-being in VET, emphasizing diversity, inclusion, and student engagement; and gender equality guidance, addressing inclusion issues, were some of the workshops in which EfVET members participated during the event. Additionally, innovative educational methodologies such as virtual reality and mobile-based learning were explored, giving participants hands-on experience in the digitalization of Vocational Training.

Among the different sessions, Laureen Rwatirera, Vice President of Organizational Development at ASML; Nick Jordan, Head of Learning at Vestas; and Chiara Rondino, Head of the European Commission’s Education and Vocational Training Unit participated as speakers.

2024 General Assembly

Alongside the Annual Conference, EfVET members attended the 2024 General Assembly, where the Strategic Plan through 2026, the annual activity report, the annual work plan, and the 2025 economic plan were presented by Javier Serrano of FPEmpresa’s Board of Directors.

One of EfVET’s main goals is to strengthen its representation in Europe, opening the possibility of international collaboration. Finally, all shared documents were approved by an absolute majority, allowing the Executive Board to continue working to address current challenges.

The Asociación de Centros de Formación Profesional FPEmpresa has participated in the 9th Annual Seminar of the European Alliance for Apprenticeships (EAfA) and the European Training Foundation (ETF), in collaboration with the Albanian Ministry of Economy, Culture, and Innovation. The event took place on October 17-18 in Tirana, Albania, and was attended by FPEmpresa representative, Mª José Fernández, along with more than 80 participants to discuss the evaluation and training of apprentices. “These sessions have been essential for gathering representatives from the education and labor sectors, as well as addressing the new challenges and opportunities facing vocational training,” Fernández stated.

‘Apprentice Mentorship’ and ‘Adult Learning’ were the primary themes of the sessions. Policy updates, such as the participation of Olta Manjani, Albanian Minister of Economy, Culture, and Innovation, and examples of work-based learning in EAfA member countries offered a broad overview of current practices and challenges in these areas.

Among the interventions, Beatrice Biolcati from the European Commission welcomed Bosnia and Herzegovina and other new members to the EAfA. Additionally, thematic panels focused on the two main topics: the first covered mentoring modalities, tools, roles, and responsibilities of mentors, while the second addressed the potential of adult learning.

Different Spaces to Address Learning

As a new feature, this year’s seminar brought together diverse stakeholders, including government agencies, businesses, social agents, chambers of commerce, and educational institutions. All participants, from EAfA member and partner countries, had the opportunity to exchange ideas and best practices on vocational training and apprenticeships.

To incorporate different perspectives, the annual meeting included discussion panels with new and long-standing EAfA members. Fernández noted, “It’s interesting to receive the latest policy updates on apprenticeship training in other EU countries.” “Participants analyzed new teaching opportunities and shared opinions, allowing us to deepen and update our knowledge on these important topics for vocational training.”

Visits to Educational Centers in Tirana

Alongside the program presentations, the 9th Annual Seminar offered study visits to vocational training centers in Tirana, including the Economic Technical School of Tirana, the Gjergj Canco School, and the Hospitality and Tourism School of Tirana.

The visits to local technical schools provided firsthand insights into student practices, offering a closer look at Albania’s vocational training system.

Fernández noted the value of “gaining a close-up view of the work developed by schools, businesses, mentors, and students, as it allows for a greater understanding of their educational programs”.