#Innovaprofes virtual meeting, organized by CaixaBank Dualiza and FPEmpresa VET Schools Association beside FPInnovación, turned the last 19th of February into a great point of virtual meeting for the Vocational Education and Training. In a virtual way, hundreds of participants could traverse a divide space in different scenes where plays 26 presentations, where shows undertaking classrooms of VET schools and where the attendees worked the contact network, too.

The event that was developed through virtual reality platform application Virtway has transformed in the biggest VET virtual meeting, considering that it has been the second edition that has success. The day was open by the three participant entities with the treasurer vicepresident of FPEmpresa, Tomás Alonso. In that way, the most part of governing board was in #Innovaprofes through different presentations. Also, Luis García, president of the Association, dealt with new dual vocational trainings in his statement.

García explains that “this meeting has been a good opportunity to see us through a virtual environment favorable to learn about the speakers, as to be in contact in a nice way”. Apart, he underlined that “we must congratulate to the #Innovaprofes team, because they did an excellent job with this initiative. Furthermore, we need to have in mind the efforts that require a virtual encounter with so good results”.

The space that was organized by five rooms divide in different themes about educative innovation gathered almost 400 participants who could choose between various explanations from 30 different presenters. In addition, FPEmpresa had a stand in the reception zone where all the presents had detailed information about the objectives and activities of the Association.

By other hand, this event has reached a big impact in other virtual world like the social networks, because the teachers had a big response with the hashtag #Innovaprofes.

The IES Francisco Tomás y Valiente, an associated centre of FPEmpresa VET Schools Association, in collaboration with Orange Foundation, has developed a programme called GarageLab, a space envisioned as a workshop for digital innovation in which students can collaborate and develop their skills by learning how to use modern machines, discovering how to design 3D objects or using specific design software.

The project’s coordinator, Federico Salcines, stresses that one of the objectives of this program is to reduce the dropout rate among Basic Vocational Training students, via increasing their motivation and improving their skills, academic results and employability.

The participating students have been involved in the following projects within this programme: the creation of mechanical adapters for students with reduced mobility of the Princess Sofía Special Education public school, the collaboration with the students of the Hairdressing VET cycle of the IES Batán in Mieres (Asturias), or the creation of a business project.

According to the school principal of the IES Francisco Tomás y Valiente and vice-president-treasurer of FPEmpresa, Tomás Alonso: “this project represents an added boost to our innovation strategy and also a necessary support for these educational levels”. He adds that “it is also a commitment to improving the spaces, something that has indirectly caused a methodological change, as well as an integration of the different groups at these levels, since both first- and second-year Basic VET students can work together”. “We have observed a recovery of self-esteem among students and a notable reduction in absenteeism,” he concludes.

The project presentation was attended by the Mayor of Madrid, José Luis Martínez-Almeida and the CEO of Orange Spain, Jean François Fallacher, among other institutional figures.

For further information, have a look at the following video.