FPEmpresa takes part in the ENNEPlus project meeting in Guimarães
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FPEmpresa takes part in the ENNEPlus project meeting in Guimarães

The Association of Vocational Training Centres, FPEmpresa has attended the Transnational Partner Meeting (TPM) of the European project ENNEPlus, held on 14 and 15 January in Guimarães (Portugal). This international event brought together the consortium’s partner organisations to advance the development of the project’s different lines of work.

The meeting took place at the Eurostars Santa Luzia Hotel and enabled a joint review of the progress achieved, as well as coordination of upcoming actions related to social incubation, VET staff mobility, the organisation of Eco-Digithons and the definition of long-term action plans.

During the first day, a central part of the work focused on the Social Incubation Programme, including the presentation of the results achieved by the different project partners and the development of collaborative workshops aimed at identifying current and potential impacts of the social incubation process. In this context, FPEmpresa, together with Innogestiona Ambiental, presented the results obtained.

In addition, VET staff mobility for “job shadowing” placements in educational institutions and companies was addressed, analysing schedules, roles, responsibilities and potential risks, as well as the organisation of the process and support for candidates.

The day continued with the planning of the second round of Eco-Digithons at national and international level, during which the Association presented the organisation of its national edition, in coordination with the rest of the partners.

Mentoring and looking ahead

The second day of the meeting was devoted to aligning mentoring processes with the management and facilitation of the ENNEPlus project’s Community of Practice (CoP), as well as integrating dissemination and communication activities within this community. These sessions made it possible to coordinate timelines, support tools and the role of the different partners and European networks involved.

Another key area focused on the participatory design of long-term action plans, through working sessions in national groups followed by a joint discussion of strategies to engage local stakeholders, define target audiences and plan upcoming actions. In this context, FPEmpresa and Innogestiona Ambiental jointly presented their strategy and lines of action.

The meeting concluded with the finalisation of the project methodology and the planning of the associated dissemination activities, including graphic materials, digital content and communication actions through the website of the European ENNEPlus project.

FPEmpresa meets with ENNE+ members in Italy for SHU 2025
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FPEmpresa meets with ENNE+ members in Italy for SHU 2025

On July 3rd and 4th, the Asociación de Centros de Formación Profesional FPEmpresa joined the partners of the European project ENNE+ in Spello, Italy, due to the Social Hackathon Umbria 2025 (SHU 2025) event. Throughout these two days, ENNE+ members from Austria, Portugal, Spain, and Italy discussed matters related to the upcoming Eco-Digithon, which will take place in 2026. The participants shared their respective countries’ participation results and addressed organizational issues concerning the project’s agenda for the coming year, establishing key factors to consider.

A significant portion of the discussions focused on enhancing the experience of participants in the competition and implementing new tools within the ENNE+ Community of Practice (CoP), an educational resource platform that already boasts over 1,300 active users. As a result, various action strategies were defined to strengthen the competition, communication, and follow-up for each project during the social incubation process. Feedback from members and users was essential in identifying relevant parameters to shape and reinforce the project’s development lines.

Social Hackathon Umbria 2025

The ENNE+ meeting took place as the town of Spello hosted SHU 2025, organized by EGInA. As part of this event, activities related to art, technology, sustainability, and innovation were held. The goal of these sessions was to promote young people’s digital skills and foster the co-creation of innovative digital solutions that can generate social impact and support the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the 2030 Agenda.

The winning teams from each Eco-Digithon had the opportunity to present their projects to an international audience. Representing Spain, the team from IES Sierra la Calera attended with their project MuéveteX, a proposal aimed at improving mobility and connectivity in rural areas through a collaborative transportation app, supported by the Santa Marta de los Barros City Council. Additionally, the program enabled them to develop an independent project with the help of students from around the world.

Success of the 1st Eco-Digithon in Spain: Youth, Businesses, and Education Drive Innovation in Dual Vocational Training
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Success of the 1st Eco-Digithon in Spain: Youth, Businesses, and Education Drive Innovation in Dual Vocational Training

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.

FPEmpresa hosts the ENNEPlus project at IES Clara del Rey for the Eco-Digithon 2025
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FPEmpresa hosts the ENNEPlus project at IES Clara del Rey for the Eco-Digithon 2025

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.

FPEmpresa starts in Brussels the ENNEPlus project to strengthen European VET networks through Eco-innovation
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FPEmpresa starts in Brussels the ENNEPlus project to strengthen European VET networks through Eco-innovation

The Association of Vocational Training Centres FPEmpresa has attended on 30-31 of January in 2024 the first face-to-face meeting of the European project ENNEPlus – Enhancing VET National Networks Through Ecoinnovation at the All Digital office in Brussels (Belgium).

This project is the successor of the previous ENNEPlus project and will run from 2024 to 2026. The aim of ENNEPlus is to enhance the capacity of VET providers to contribute to transformative and sustainable change in their local communities through networking, capacity building and challenge-based activities in the field of eco-innovation.

The project meeting was led by Egina (International Academy of European Fellowships), the project coordinator in Italy, and was attended by the other European partners, including WKO Steiermark and FH Joanneum from Austria; EfVET and All Digital from Belgium; Sereco from Italy; Innogestiona from Spain; and Apemeta and Arts & Skills from Portugal.

Empowering European VET networks through Eco-innovation

During the first session, participants learned about the specific objectives of the project and the work plan that will be followed during the process. In addition, the main dates of meetings and work deadlines were established, and the Social Hackathon, which will take place in Umbria (Italy) from 4 to 7 July 2024, was presented.

Afterwards, FHJoanneum presented the studies of its educational institution, the projects in which it participates and the different learning scenarios. Innogestiona explained their environmental role and how they approach their management and community participation in the ENNEPlus project.

During the second session, Egina presented the administrative management of the ENNEPlus project and explained how partners should present their activities. Subsequently, FHJoanneum showed the steps of the excellence assurance plan and the next tasks related to it, while EfVET shared the dissemination and communication plan of the work.

To conclude the meeting, the partners participated in the last activity, divided by countries to discuss other possible actors that could join the local actions. They also shared their social networks and told the partners about the activities and projects carried out by each of the organisations.