FPEmpresa attended a meeting with the Canadian Bureau for International Education (CBIE) at the Embassy of Canada in Spain. The event, held on thursday 21th of september, consisted of creating a networking space dedicated to international collaboration with Canada. The event was attended by secondary schools and vocational training centres as well as public and private universities, both spanish and canadian. Among the attendees were the associated centres IES Clara del Rey, IES La Arboleda, IES Isaac Peral, CIFP José Luis Garci and IES Antonio Machado.

In addition, this is the second meeting this year between FPEmpresa and Canadian associations to promote partnerships in relation to international mobility. Carlos de Olagüe Smithson, International and Madrid coordinator of the Association, was in charge of presenting FPEmpresa to the representatives of the Canadian and Spanish educational centres.

International alliances

The international representative of FPEmpresa was the second to speak, explaining the function of the spanish education system; the different training options available to students; and how vocational training works in Spain. Finally, Olagüe explained the structure and projects of the Association.

“This meeting allows us to deepen and improve relations with vocational training institutes in Spain. It is a great opportunity for the schools in Barcelona, which were there at the beginning of the week, and the schools in Madrid to make contact with schools in Canada. In this way, links can be established on student and teacher mobility, scientific collaboration and skills development,” said Carlos de Olagüe.

The event was held with the support of FPEmpresa, the Spanish Service for the Internationalisation of Education (SEPIE) and the Canadian Commercial Delegates Service in Spain. Likewise, here the Association has been able to generate this meeting together with CBIE in order to open the borders between both countries and generate new experiences for higher education students.

The VET School Association FPEmpresa has had a meeting with a directors’ delegation of center belonging to the Colleges & Institutes of Canada (CICan) in the Canadian Embassy in Spain. An encounter celebrated the last Monday, 13th June, where associated centers to FPEmpresa and VET Canadian centers have participated with the aim to know the Vocational Education and Training in both countries. In that way, this first physical meeting between Spain and Canada has allowed to develop strategic alliances in relation to VET. In addition, Tomás Alonso, vice president treasurer of the Association, has been the person in charge of present FPEmpresa to the Canadian directors.

The Association and CICan have realized this encounter with the purpose to open borders between both countries and create new experiences to the VET students. A meeting where the members and the Canadian centers have created new bonds through a B2B Session. The participants have thought in future mobilities between both delegations.

By other hand, the FPEmpresa’s vice president has provide the IES Francisco Tomás y Valiente center to the visitant delegation. There they have known the Spanish educative system and the projects of the center closer. Also, the Canadian people has participated in a virtual reality demonstration in the high school IES Clara del Rey.

FPEmpresa put faith in the internationalization and the strong confidence in the supranational organizations as EfVET, on a European level, and WFCP (World Federation Of Colleges And Polytechnics), on a global level, belonging to both as member.