PRALINE meets in Helsinki to learn about Finnish VET and its new education reform
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PRALINE meets in Helsinki to learn about Finnish VET and its new education reform

The Association of Vocational Training Centres FPEmpresa has participated in the seventh PLA (Peer Learning Activity) of the European project PRALINE (Promoting Adult Learning in Networks) that has been held on 22nd and 23rd May in Helsinki (Finland). On this occasion, the AMKE organisation was in charge of organising the conference, which was held at the Taitotalo educational centre.

The conference focused on the educational system of the Finnish country, as well as the functioning of Vocational Training. The different speakers explained the different training options available to students, as well as the possibility of personalising their study itineraries.

In addition, the theme of VET as a solution to unemployment was addressed, with Annukka Jamisto, Director of Services and Adwoa Brewun, Business Coordinator at Omnia, explaining possible solutions to help immigrants in the country to train and get a job.

Among the participants who also shared their perspectives on the Finnish education system and the commitment to work-based learning were Marika Koski, teacher at Sataedu; Matti Isokallio, Director of the Education and Training Consortium at Sataedu; Minna Sandberg, International Coordinator at Spesia, a special VET institution; Saara Ikkelä, Senior Specialist at the Ministry of Education and Culture and Keijo Honkonen, Deputy Director of the Taitotalo Centre.

One of the main themes of the conference was to continue to work on the fact that young people and adults can learn together, as half of the VET students are between 20 and 60 years old. In this way, both age groups can complement each other in terms of knowledge and professional and personal experience.

After having concluded the presentation of the days, as it was done in the six previous ALMPs, the PRALINE partners have met to explain their points of view and to motivate a debate to find new ideas on the subject among them.

Finally, the European partners will meet at the eighth ALMP in Croatia next October and will be organised by the Hrvatsko Andragosko Drustvo (HAD) association.

PRALINE is an Erasmus+ funded project that aims to strengthen and boost international networks of adult education providers already in operation by learning about good practice.

More than half a thousand VET teachers promote the new collaboration between schools and companies at the 9th FPEmpresa and CaixaBank Dualiza Congress
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More than half a thousand VET teachers promote the new collaboration between schools and companies at the 9th FPEmpresa and CaixaBank Dualiza Congress

More than 550 teachers discussed the new collaboration between VET centres and companies that will take place after the implementation of the VET Law at the 9th FPEmpresa and CaixaBank Dualiza VET Congress. Under the slogan “Working together. The new role of the company in VET” and during the 4th and 5th of May, the Cidade da Cultura de Galicia in Santiago de Compostela hosted the debates related to the challenges that society will face for the adequate development of the new regulations, the role that business and trade union organisations will develop to facilitate the training commitment of the company and the relationship with the centres, and the role of the company tutor in dual training.

The Regional Minister of Culture, Education and Universities of the Xunta de Galicia, Román Rodríguez, stressed that companies will have “to trust even more in vocational training” with the introduction of the new law that dualises all new training, despite the fact that a large part of the work has already been done. As he pointed out, “companies rely on vocational training to find professional resources to expand their workforces”, as reflected in the data: “85% of students who take vocational training in Galicia are placed immediately, and if we are talking about dual training, the percentage is 100%”.

Among the companies that took part in the Congress were Iberdrola, Nestlé España and Grupo Pescanova, which underlined the responsibility that companies are taking on with the new regulations.

Silvia Carballo, from HR at Nestlé España, pointed out that this new regulation poses to the company “whether you want to be a mere spectator or integrate me from the beginning, that we all start hand in hand with a common objective to provide the best profiles, which adapt to the needs we have”.

For Patricia Rodríguez, from the Grupo Pescanova, the new law is an opportunity to increase collaboration with educational centres and to continue improving.

New success in participation

The organisers FPEmpresa and CaixaBank Dualiza, in collaboration with the Xunta de Galicia and the participation of Fundación Orange, have celebrated the good reception of the congress, which each year brings together more than half a thousand attendees from all over Spain.

The president of FPEmpresa, Luis García Domínguez, gave a positive assessment of the results of the event and recalled that “the 9th VET Congress was intended to focus on the new role of the company in the regulatory framework of the new VET Law”.

In this way, García stated that “the reflections that have taken place at this meeting have helped us to determine which are the critical elements for improving the system. One of them is related to improving orientation towards vocational training and the desire to find ways or places for companies and centres to meet”.

The director of CaixaBank Dualiza, Paula San Luis, expressed her satisfaction with the smooth running of the congress, which has already become a benchmark for VET professionals and is a meeting point for teachers, but also a stage for the main educational vanguards, and a bridge to companies, which are increasingly represented in this forum”.

This success is the result, said San Luis, “of the efforts of teachers from all over Spain, of our ally FPEmpresa, without whom this would not be possible, and of the Xunta and the Ministry of Education and Vocational Training, which not only facilitate but also support each of the actions initiated by CaixaBank Dualiza for the prestige of vocational training”.

9th VET Congress, a meeting point for VET centres, companies and business organisations

More than 20 speakers from different sectors, from academia to business, took part in the congress, with the aim of highlighting the value of leading companies in vocational training and the creation of tools that provide knowledge to educational centres and national and international students. Among the various speakers were Román Rodríguez, Regional Minister of Culture, Education, Vocational Training and Universities of the Xunta de Galicia; Eugenia Pérez, Director General of Vocational Training of the Xunta de Galicia; Ángeles Cárdaba, Advisor to the Office of the Secretary of Vocational Training; Mónica Moso, head of the CaixaBank Dualiza VET Knowledge and Innovation Centre; and, finally, companies such as Iberdrola, with the head of Training at Iberdrola Spain, Roberto Mediavilla; IndesIA, with the expert in the GCTio area of Telefónica, Daniel Guzmán, Grupo Pescanova, Nestlé España, among others.

FPEmpresa also presented the awards for the 6th Call for Dualiza Grants and the 3rd edition of the FPEmpresa Awards, with Juan Carlos Lauder, former director of CaixaBank Dualiza, being recognised in the category of Vocational Training Career Award; and Javier Olleros in the category of the Award for the Company committed to Vocational Training.

Also, within the framework of this congress, several visits were made to VET centres in Galicia, such as CIFP Compostela, CIFP Politécnico de Santiago, CIFP Someso, CIFP de Imaxe y Son, CIFP Paseo das Pontes, CIFP Universidade Laboral Culleredo, CIFP Ánxel Casal-Monte Alto and CGIFP Eduardo Barreiros.

The Congress has been broadcasted live through the official YouTube channels of FPEmpresa and CaixaBank Dualiza and can be viewed again in the following links:

If you wish to consult the programme of the 9th VET Congress, click here.

FPEmpresa and Esprinet Group launch the II Edition of the VET Knowledge Transfer Awards
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FPEmpresa and Esprinet Group launch the II Edition of the VET Knowledge Transfer Awards

The Association of Vocational Training Centres FPEmpresa and the Esprinet Group are launching the 2nd edition of the Knowledge Transfer Awards in the field of VET with the aim of making female talent visible in those vocational training professional families where the presence of women is testimonial.

This call is aimed at any public, subsidised or private educational centre that is associated with FPEmpresa.

After the success of its first edition in 2022 with 300 participants, FPEmpresa and the Esprinet Group have decided to renew the collaboration agreement this February and thus launch the second edition to promote female talent in vocational training cycles where there is a low representation of women.

Likewise, among the objectives of this call is the desire to develop key skills and abilities among VET students in order to train competitive professionals, as well as the learning of technical skills.

As in the first edition, this initiative is committed to the 2030 Agenda which, through the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals, aims to move towards societies with inclusive economic growth, greater cohesion and social justice, in peace and with a sustainable environmental horizon.

In this way, the participants in this call propose to devise a technological solution that contributes to achieving at least one of the SDGs and also promotes gender equality, which corresponds to SDG 5.

Finally, the three winners of the challenge will be awarded a prize of 5,500, 4,000 and 2,500 euros, respectively. Full details of the challenge will be announced on 8 March in an online session. The winning teams will be announced on 25 May 2023.

FPEmpresa

Since its constitution in 2012, FPEmpresa is a non-profit association that brings together public, private and subsidised Vocational Training Centres from all over Spain. In the same line, it contributes to create a network of centres able to share experiences, projects that want to develop and enhance the Vocational Training System of this country.

FPEmpresa aims to give prominence to Vocational Training in the education system and to strengthen relations between the centres and their environment. The commitment between Vocational Training Centres and companies makes it possible to improve the educational offer for vocational training students and the pathways to integration into the labour market.

In 2019, the Ministry of Education and Vocational Training awarded the Plaque of Honour of the Civil Order of Alfonso X the Wise to the Association for promoting VET through collaboration between centres, the exchange of experiences and good practices.

Esprinet

Esprinet is an enabler of the technological ecosystem that, with a strong commitment to environmental and social sustainability, promotes technological democracy. With a comprehensive offering of consulting services, IT security, services and products for sale or rental through an extensive network of professional resellers, Esprinet is the leading Group in Southern Europe (Italy, Spain and Portugal), the fourth largest in Europe and among the top ten worldwide. With more than 1800 employees and ¤4.7 billion in sales in 2022, Esprinet (PRT:IM – ISIN IT0003850929) is listed on the Italian Stock Exchange.

FPEmpresa and CaixaBank Dualiza organise the 9th Vocational Training Congress focused on the new role of companies in vocational training
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FPEmpresa and CaixaBank Dualiza organise the 9th Vocational Training Congress focused on the new role of companies in vocational training

The Association of Vocational Training Centres FPEmpresa and CaixaBank Dualiza are organising the 9th VET Congress under the slogan ‘Working together. The new role of business in VET’. The Congress will be held on 4 and 5 May at the Cidade da Cultura de Galicia in Santiago de Compostela. In addition, the event has the collaboration of the Xunta de Galicia and the sponsorship of the Fundación Orange.

With the new VET law, which will be implemented in 2024, all training will be dual, which will lead to students spending more hours training in companies. The productive sectors will be able to acquire a new commitment to collaboration with vocational training and learning outcomes. For this reason, this new edition aims to become the meeting point for VET centres, companies and business organisations to highlight the new collaboration that will take place between centres and companies.

The president of FPEmpresa, Luis García, assures that this Congress “has the challenge of joining forces between companies and centres to promote vocational training. With the new VET Law, VET centres need companies to help them to increase the number of hours in training positions and to take co-responsibility for the learning outcomes of students. Therefore, this Congress aims to become a great space for reflection and collaboration”.

For her part, the Director of CaixaBank Dualiza, Paula San Luis, expressed her confidence that the congress “will once again become one of the main forums in our country to bring together VET teachers and provide them with a space to learn about experiences, exchange opinions and establish alliances that will allow Vocational Training to continue to advance. In this endeavour, teachers will continue to have the firm support of CaixaBank Dualiza”.

In addition, San Luis said that “the success of previous editions among the educational community will be repeated this year, with the added bonus that more and more companies will participate in the event, facilitating the relationship between the different realities of our VET, which is the main objective with which Dualiza was born and continues to work.

A student body that is better trained and prepared for their future employment

After the inauguration and the institutional presentation, the presentations will include the Secretary General of Vocational Training, Clara Sanz; the Director General of Vocational Training of the Xunta de Galicia, Eugenia Pérez; and the Director of Education and Training at CEOE, Juan Carlos Tejeda, to address key issues on the role of business in vocational training.

There will also be a block of research presentations with the participation of entities such as the Dualiza Observatory, Orkestra, University of Santiago de Compostela (USC), among others, and there will be visits to educational centres in Galicia, such as CIFP Compostela, CIFP Politécnico de Santiago, CIFP Someso, CIFP de Imaxe y Son, CIFP Paseo das Pontes, CIFP Universidade Laboral Culleredo, CIFP Ánxel Casal-Monte Alto and CGIFP Eduardo Barreiros.

The IX VET Congress will address and discuss issues such as the role of the company tutor in dual training. Also, aspects such as the role that business and trade union organisations will play in the daily life of the centres through the social councils or how we can generate an innovation model for SMEs with the collaboration of the VET centres.

Anyone interested in Vocational Education and Training can participate by registering at the following link.

For more information about the congress or more details about the programme, please click here.

FPEmpresa and Esprinet Group renew agreement to reward the best proposals for knowledge transfer in VET
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FPEmpresa and Esprinet Group renew agreement to reward the best proposals for knowledge transfer in VET

The Association of Vocational Training Centres FPEmpresa, which currently represents more than 500 VET centres in Spain, and the Esprinet Group have renewed for the second consecutive year their collaboration agreement to carry out necessary actions in the field of VET.

This agreement was made for the first time in February 2022 and this year it returns with the aim of rewarding the best proposals for knowledge transfer in VET. In addition, among its objectives is the desire to promote female talent in training cycles where they have little visibility.

The president of FPEmpresa, Luis García Domínguez, states that “for the Association, renewing this collaboration agreement means maintaining our commitment that means that vocational training centres are allied with companies in our productive sectors. Likewise, this initiative allows us to continue our commitment to talent in all areas of VET expressed by women”.

Since FPEmpresa was created in 2012, it has been working to promote and foster vocational training through the exchange of experiences and good practices. In this way, the Association aims to become one of the agents that strengthen the VET system in the country.

“With the renewal of this agreement we reaffirm our commitment to promote key skills and abilities to train the professionals of the future. In particular, by giving visibility to female talent in those professional families of VET where its presence is testimonial”, says Javier Bilbao-Goyoaga, president of V-Valley Advanced Solutions (Spain & Portugal).

Following the renewal of this collaboration agreement, FPEmpresa and the Esprinet Group are launching entries for the 2nd edition of the Knowledge Transfer Awards in the field of VET. This call for entries is aimed at any public, subsidised or private educational centre associated with FPEmpresa. The registration period will be open from 13 February until 24 February and can be registered through this link.

FPEmpresa

FPEmpresa is a non-profit association that brings together public, private and subsidised Vocational Training Centres from all over Spain. In the same line, it contributes to create a network of centres able to share experiences, projects that want to develop and promote the Vocational Training System of this country.

FPEmpresa aims to give prominence to Vocational Training in the education system and to strengthen relations between the centres and their environment. The commitment between Vocational Training Centres and companies makes it possible to improve the educational offer for vocational training students and the pathways to integration into the labour market.

In 2019, the Ministry of Education and Vocational Training awarded the Plaque of Honour of the Civil Order of Alfonso X the Wise to the Association for promoting VET through collaboration between centres, the exchange of experiences and good practices.

Esprinet

Esprinet is an enabler of the technological ecosystem that, with a strong vocation for environmental and social sustainability, promotes technological democracy. With a

comprehensive offering of consulting services, IT security, services and products for sale or rental through an extensive network of professional resellers, Esprinet is the leading Group in Southern Europe (Italy, Spain and Portugal), the fourth largest in Europe and among the top ten worldwide.

FPEmpresa celebrates 500 associated centres to continue promoting vocational training
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FPEmpresa celebrates 500 associated centres to continue promoting vocational training

The Association of Vocational Training Centres FPEmpresa has surpassed this 16th February the figure of 500 associated centres from all over Spain. This figure is significant for the organisation, as it means that FPEmpresa’s objectives are being met every day.

Since the Association was set up in 2012, it has been committed to giving a leading role to VET in the education system and strengthening relations between the centres and their environment, helping to generate a greater public presence of these in society. Furthermore, the commitment between vocational training centres and companies is essential to improve the educational offer of training cycles and the pathways to integration into the labour market.

Having reached the figure of 500 associated centres, FPEmpresa continues to work to improve VET every day and to ensure its future growth, because the more centres we have, the more authority the voice of the Association will have.

FPEmpresa believes that all the players involved in VET should maintain the efforts made in recent years to raise the profile of VET and, above all, to invest in resources for it. VET centres should be a point of guidance, training and accompaniment towards the labour market.

VET as the first educational option, the greatest challenge for FPEmpresa

With the new VET Law, many of the main objectives have become a reality. A path has begun on which, if the resources invested are sustained, it could become a new VET comparable to its EU neighbours

Given the daily growth in the number of members, our network is committed to VET as the first educational option, as well as being sufficient, free, flexible and accessible to everyone. FPEmpresa also works to bring VET closer to companies and social agents. It is the future of citizens, but also the future of a healthy society and economy.

CaixaBank Dualiza and the various projects with which it promotes vocational training

Over the last 10 years, the Association has organised various projects related to vocational training thanks to the collaboration with its strategic ally, CaixaBank Dualiza. Both entities have worked together to launch noteworthy projects, such as the Convocatoria de Ayudas Dualiza, which to date has launched six different editions; and the Convocatoria de Orientación Activa, whose current edition is the fourth and whose aim is to recognise and support the guidance actions of educational centres towards VET and/or Dual VET.

In addition, every year FPEmpresa has received the support of CaixaBank Dualiza to organise the different VET Congresses in Spain, which aim to promote the VET of the future and share experiences and good practices among schools.

We would also like to thank the Group Esprinet for its cooperation, with which the collaboration agreement has been renewed to launch initiatives such as the VET Knowledge Transfer Award; Coca Cola for participating in ‘Gira Jóvenes’, its entrepreneurship and youth employability support project; the Orange Foundation, the ExE Foundation, CONIF, among others, to continue carrying out projects for and in favour of VET.

FPEmpresa is committed to Internationalisation

The Organisation is committed to Internationalisation in order to share its objectives and values with other European and international educational entities. For this reason, FPEmpresa is involved in international projects and associations, such as the Spanish Service for the Internationalisation of Education (SEPIE) and EfVET (European Forum of Technical and Vocational Education and Training), considered to be one of the most relevant international entities working to promote the quality of VET at European level.

FPEmpresa is also a member of another educational organisation of major international importance, WFCP (World Federation Of Colleges And Polytechnics). Belonging to these entities is not only beneficial for the Association, but also “for our associated centres, which allow them to have references and support in Europe or in other parts of the world”, says the president of FPEmpresa, Luis García Domínguez.

Tenth anniversary and 8th VET Congress

Another of the Association’s notable events was the holding of the VIII VET Congress, under the slogan ‘Building the VET centre of the future’, in Donostia-San Sebastián. More than 650 teachers gathered at this meeting to analyse the future of VET in the country, a record number of attendees for FPEmpresa. At the same time, the Association took the opportunity to celebrate its tenth anniversary, promoting vocational training centres with a future.

In 2010, the FPEmpresa project was presented as an innovation project under the motivation of 83 national VET centres. Two years later it would become the Association that seeks to represent the VET centres of Spain.

To watch the video about the 10th anniversary of FPEmpresa on YouTube, click here.

Finally, we would like to thank all the members who have participated throughout this time in the Boards of Directors and the current members of the Board of Directors, who every day work for a quality and innovative VET and for it to become the first educational option in the country.

PRALINE works on the influence of the SDGs in the French VET system
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PRALINE works on the influence of the SDGs in the French VET system

The Association of Vocational Training Centres FPEmpresa has participated in the sixth PLA (Peer Learning Activity) of the European project PRALINE (Promoting Adult Learning in Networks), held on 30 and 31 January in La Rochelle (France). The meeting was organised by the Association Union Nationale Des Maisons Familiales Rurales d’Education Et (MFR).

The conference focused on the understanding of VET in France, digitalisation and the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals in VET and Adult Education. During the presentation of these topics, the different speakers presented their possible solutions and alternatives through good practices in the country.

One of the main topics of the conference was La Rochelle, the French coastal city considered as a zero carbon territory. Joffrey Perrussel (Low Carbon Strategy Officer) and Julien Cluchague (Smart Campus Project Manager – Univeristy of La Rochelle) took part as guests.

Both Perrussel and Cluchague explained to the European partners that sustainable development has been a priority for La Rochelle for more than 40 years, thanks to the commitment of the population to fight climate change. Thus, one of the main objectives of the territory is to reach carbon neutrality by 2040 and to respect the objectives of the Paris Agreement.

MFR promotes new digital skills

Other topics discussed were the figure of the monitor by Sandrine Guibert (Pedagogical delegate FRMFR N-A – ANFRA) and Mathias Ledouce (Monitor – MFR La Garette); and the activity of the MFR Association. The Maisons familiales rurales (MFR) are vocational training centres that alternate study and work experience and are run by “families”.

These centres allow young people in rural areas to access education and acquire a professional qualification. Today, MRFs exist in more than 30 countries, mainly in Europe, Africa, Latin America and Asia.

After discussing improvements and new digital competences for teachers, as in previous ALMPs, PRALINE partners meet in groups to present their views and stimulate a debate to find new ideas among them.

At the end of the conference, the European partners have organised the dates for the next ALMPs: in May in Helsinki (Finland), organised by AMKE; in October in Croatia by Hrvatsko Andragosko Drustvo; and the last ALMP of the project will take place in December in the Netherlands by MBO Raad.

PRALINE is an Erasmus+ funded project that aims to strengthen and boost international networks of adult education providers already in operation by learning about good practice.

FPEmpresa attends the EfVET Executive Management meetings in Madrid
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FPEmpresa attends the EfVET Executive Management meetings in Madrid

The Association of Vocational Training Centres FPEmpresa attended the meetings of the EfVET Executive Management held on 26th and 27th January at the Escuela Superior de Hostelería y Turismo in Madrid. Carlos de Olagüe, EfVET Coordinator for Spain and FPEmpresa Member for Madrid and International, also participated in the organisation of the meeting.

The agenda of the day covered discussions on various topics such as: policy, conference, membership action, finance and projects. However, one of the most prominent topics on the agenda was the preparation of the next European Congress on the island of Rhodes (Greece) from 26 until 28 October 2023. The Congress will include conferences, workshops, visits to VET centres and Market Place (networking meetings), although the theme of the event is not yet known.

The meeting on the 26th was followed by a visit to the facilities of the Escuela Superior de Hostelería y Turismo to learn about good VET practices in the centre.

The meeting on the 27th was followed by a visit to the facilities of the Escuela de la Vid, where José María Rodríguez, Director General of Secondary Education and Vocational Training of the Community of Madrid welcomed the participants, who came from 12 different countries.

Meetings to increase international relations

“The event has been a great opportunity to give visibility in Europe to the quality of vocational training in Spain. Both the Escuela Superior de Hostelería y Turismo and the Escuela del Vid have shown the methodologies and training techniques at the highest level. The Entrepreneurship Classroom of the School of Hospitality and Tourism, equipped with the latest technology, and the attention received by teachers and students have made possible the event with a great international impact,” said Carlos de Olagüe.

“Without a doubt, for FPEmpresa it has been an excellent opportunity to consolidate its international trajectory. In addition, this event was made possible thanks to the collaboration of the Directorate General for Secondary Education and Vocational Training and the teams and students of the Escuela Superior de Hostelería y Turismo de Madrid and the Escuela de la Vid”, concluded the EfVET coordinator for Spain.

Finally, the meeting discussed the work of the Thematic Themes (EfVET thematic teams), established in 2018 with the main objective of becoming a ‘Think Tank’, opinion leader and reference point for VET in a specific field. Also, to promote innovation and business opportunities among project members.

Currently, EfVET thematic teams are focusing on the areas of Entrepreneurship, Sustainability through VET, Tourism, VET 4.0, Internationalisation and Learning Mobility and Inclusive Vocational Excellence.

CaixaBank Dualiza and FPEmpresa organise the Dualiza Automotive Encounter
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CaixaBank Dualiza and FPEmpresa organise the Dualiza Automotive Encounter

CaixaBank Dualiza and FPEmpresa have organised this Wednesday, 23rd November, the Dualiza Automotive Meeting at the IES Ana Luisa Benítez. This event, with the collaboration of the Sergio Alonso Foundation, was held with the aim of creating a meeting point where the centres that offer training courses in the professional family of Transport and Vehicle Maintenance can strengthen or establish new relationships with companies in the automotive sector within the framework of the new FP law.

Programme

The event was aimed at the educational centres where the TMV professional family is implemented, as well as business associations and companies in the automotive sector. The meeting began at 9am with a welcome from Javier Nuez Sáchez, director of IES Ana Luisa Benítez; and Eva Aguado, Territorial Coordinator of CaixaBank Dualiza.

This was followed by a presentation on ‘Vocational Training, a new scenario’ by Rosario Gañán Pérez, Director General of Vocational Training and Adult Education. Once finished, Manuel Socorro Valido, Dual VET prospector of the TMV professional family, started the presentation of the day. Nayra Moreno, director of the Sergio Alonso Foundation, spoke about ‘FP Plus automotive’ to highlight the importance of collaboration between the centre and the company.

Likewise, the CIFP Profesor Raúl Vázquez (Madrid) presented the good practices carried out in the Dual VET of the TMV family. Once again, Manuel Socorro spoke on the subject of the figure of the prospector in VET.

After the different interventions, there was a break to have breakfast and take advantage of the space for networking activities. To conclude the event, a round table was held to highlight the value of dual vocational training, under the title ‘Dual vocational training, the challenge’.

IndesIA and FPEmpresa join forces to promote training in digitisation, data and artificial intelligence
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IndesIA and FPEmpresa join forces to promote training in digitisation, data and artificial intelligence

Over the next three years, companies will need 90,000 professionals with expertise in data and Artificial Intelligence in order to be more efficient and able to compete internationally. In addition, new technologies and, therefore, the skills that employees need to have will evolve at such a rapid pace that they will have to continuously update and recycle their knowledge.

This situation is one of the great challenges that companies and society in general are already facing. And in this context, Vocational Training is one of the most relevant training modalities to train all the necessary talent, both in the Spanish industrial sector and in the rest of the economic activities. In order to respond to these training needs and meet companies’ demand for talent, IndesIA, the association to promote the use of Artificial Intelligence in the Spanish industrial sector, made up of nine of the country’s leading companies (Repsol, Gestamp, Navantia, Técnicas Reunidas, Telefónica, Microsoft, Airbus, Ferrovial and Inditex) and FPEmpresa, an organisation that brings together more than 450 Spanish vocational training centres, have committed to working together.

The aim of this collaboration agreement is to promote the introduction of technologies related to data and artificial intelligence within the educational curricula of vocational training to promote training and employment related to science and technology.

As a result of this collaboration, FPEmpresa will begin to carry out an analysis of the current state of VET in everything related to the data economy and Artificial Intelligence by reviewing various reports prepared by IndesIA, which analyse different professional profiles demanded by companies and the training offer currently available and that which will be needed in the future.

In addition, both entities will collaborate in the development of the “Digitalisation” module, which will be compulsory in all Vocational Training degrees, as defined in the Vocational Training Modernisation Plan promoted by the Ministry of Education and Vocational Training. This will also mean that both institutions will participate in the training of the teaching professionals who will have to teach this module.

On the other hand, their contribution to the creation and revision of vocational training itineraries to train professionals in the field of the data economy and Artificial Intelligence is also foreseen, as well as the promotion of these itineraries in educational centres throughout the national territory.

According to Valero Marín, president of IndesIA, “it is necessary to focus on training and education if we want to improve the shortage of expert profiles in technologies and achieve the transformation of the country in the long term. The data indicate that there are 200,000 jobs related to science, mathematics, engineering and technology that will not be filled in the next two years”. In this sense, he warns “Vocational Training is a great opportunity to train all this talent in a faster and more practical way, but it must focus on the application of new technologies, which is why we consider this agreement with FPEmpresa to be essential, because thanks to their work we will be able to disseminate the importance of digitalisation in all the centres that make up this entity”.

For his part, Luis García, President of FPEMPRESA, explains “it is necessary for vocational training centres to be prepared to be able to provide quality, up-to-date teaching. Not only new technologies, but also the way of learning is different as the digitalisation of classrooms evolves. It is therefore interesting that the centres adapt their teaching methods to the new teaching tools, such as: virtual/augmented reality, digital environments such as digital twins, classrooms equipped with Industry 4.0 technology, etc.”. On the other hand, he comments “it is essential that a VET student is trained in an environment similar to the one they will later find in the real company and in this sense, IndesIA is for us the opportunity to obtain the knowledge that the large companies that make up the association have in terms of the application of data and Artificial Intelligence in the daily work of an organisation”.