An inclusive electrical panel to make home safety accessible to everyone
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An inclusive electrical panel to make home safety accessible to everyone

An electrical panel may seem like a simple element in a home. It is usually located near the entrance or in a hallway, ready to respond when a circuit breaker trips, a fault occurs or the power needs to be switched off. However, for many people, identifying what has happened, reaching the panel or knowing which part of the home has lost power is not so straightforward.

This everyday situation gave rise to the project developed by IES Gerardo Molina, in Torre-Pacheco, awarded the first of the two third prizes in the 5th edition of the VET Knowledge Transfer Awards, promoted by FPEmpresa and Grupo Esprinet. Developed within the Higher VET programme in Electrotechnical and Automated Systems, the initiative aims to create an inclusive electrical panel, designed especially for women with visual impairments or reduced mobility.

The project addresses a very specific need. In the presentation video, the team illustrates it through an easy-to-imagine situation: “It is difficult for me because the panel is designed to be seen. If a circuit breaker trips, I do not know which one it is or which part of the house has lost power.” This is compounded by a physical barrier: “If something happens, I cannot reach the panel properly because it is too high.”

Based on this assessment, the students reached a clear conclusion: domestic electrical panels are not always designed to be accessible. This lack of accessibility can create insecurity in situations where acting quickly and understanding what is happening are essential.

When accessibility also means safety

The solution developed by IES Gerardo Molina incorporates several measures to make the electrical panel safer and easier to use independently. One of the main features is the integration of Braille labelling, allowing each circuit to be identified by touch. This is complemented by large, high-contrast initials designed to improve readability and visual accessibility.

The team also considered the installation height of the panel, particularly in homes where a wheelchair user may live. To do so, they consulted their teacher, María Luisa Martín, with the aim of adapting the proposal to real accessibility and usability criteria.

However, the project goes beyond the physical identification of circuits. The students incorporated a set of smart solutions that make it possible to receive alerts and manage the home more efficiently. These include a day/night sensor that detects whether a light has been left on during the day and sends a notification through Telegram, allowing it to be switched off.

A smart smoke detector has also been integrated into the same alert system. In this way, the electrical panel not only makes the installation easier to use on a daily basis, but also adds an extra layer of safety in the event of possible incidents at home.

Technology applied to independence

To manage these functions, the project uses a Raspberry Pi connected to the home Wi-Fi network, running Linux and Node-RED software. This system centralises alerts and sends notifications to a mobile phone whenever an incident occurs.

One of the most relevant features is the alert triggered when a circuit breaker switches off. The system does not simply warn the user that a fault has occurred, but identifies exactly which circuit has been affected. In the project video, the team shows an example of the type of notification the user would receive: “Circuit fault alert: sockets.”

In addition, to ensure that everything is switched off when leaving the house, the students implemented an NFC system. By holding an unlocked mobile phone near the device, all lighting and certain sockets are switched off, combining convenience, energy savings and safety.

The project is aligned with several Sustainable Development Goals, including SDG 5, through its contribution to gender equality with particular attention to women with disabilities; SDG 7, through its contribution to energy savings; and other goals related to reduced inequalities, sustainable communities, responsible consumption and climate action.

The value of the proposal lies precisely in this combination of elements: accessibility, energy, safety, independence and applied technology. It is not simply about adapting an electrical panel, but about rethinking an everyday household element from the perspective of people who face barriers in using it.

The team sums up the spirit of the project in one sentence: “We are confident that our project can help many women gain independence and safety, because designing for everyone is not an extra: it means safety, equality and peace of mind.”

FPEmpresa and Grupo Esprinet celebrate innovative talent at the 5th VET Knowledge Transfer Awards ceremony
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FPEmpresa and Grupo Esprinet celebrate innovative talent at the 5th VET Knowledge Transfer Awards ceremony

The Association of Vocational Education and Training Centres FPEmpresa and Grupo Esprinet held the awards ceremony for the 5th edition of the VET Knowledge Transfer Awards on Tuesday, 9 June, at V-Valley Academy. The event once again highlighted the ability of Vocational Education and Training students to identify challenges in their surroundings and transform them into technical solutions with a real impact.

The event brought together representatives from FPEmpresa, Grupo Esprinet and the award-winning centres, from La Rioja, Valencia, Murcia and Catalonia. They all shared the same starting point: using the knowledge acquired in the classroom to respond to specific social challenges, ranging from health and accessibility to digital violence and sustainability.

A total of 64 projects from 44 educational centres across Spain took part in this fifth edition, a figure that consolidates the growth of a call aimed at connecting VET with the productive sector and with today’s social challenges. In addition, the videos submitted by the teams exceeded 84,000 views and 22,000 likes, also reflecting the interest generated among the educational community and the general public.

The VET Knowledge Transfer Awards, promoted by FPEmpresa and Grupo Esprinet, seek to foster technical and transversal skills among students, as well as to promote gender equality in professional fields where female presence remains a minority. Since their creation, the awards have encouraged projects aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals, with special attention to SDG 5, focused on gender equality.

Solutions from the classroom to real life

The first prize, worth 5,000 euros, went to Centro Sagrado Corazón – Jesuitas Logroño, in La Rioja, for a project addressing the recovery of women who have overcome breast cancer after a mastectomy. The students designed a low-cost functional exoskeleton, manufactured using 3D printing, with the aim of facilitating arm rehabilitation and helping to improve patients’ quality of life.

The second prize, worth 3,300 euros, recognised CIPFP Misericordia, in Valencia, for a proposal focused on the rise of cyberbullying, sextortion and other forms of digital violence. Their project proposes an interactive device located in private spaces to offer immediate and confidential support, information and guidance to those who may need it.

The two third prizes, worth 1,850 euros each, went to IES Gerardo Molina, in Torre-Pacheco, and Institut Escola del Treball, in Barcelona. The centre from Murcia developed a solution to improve the accessibility of domestic electrical panels for women with visual impairments or reduced mobility, through tactile Braille labelling and mobile phone alerts. For its part, the Catalan centre designed a reusable menstrual cup with a sensory ring capable of indicating changes in pH through colour variations, as a more sustainable alternative to traditional menstrual hygiene products.

Beyond the financial recognition, the awards highlight the joint work of students, teachers and educational centres. The prizes are distributed among the centre, the teaching team and the participating students, thus reinforcing the importance of collaboration and educational support in the development of innovative projects.

The awards ceremony also served to showcase how Vocational Education and Training can become a space from which to think, create and test useful solutions for society. Each of the award-winning projects combines a technical approach with a human concern: improving medical recovery, offering support in situations of digital violence, promoting autonomy at home or seeking more sustainable alternatives for female intimate health.

With this fifth edition, the VET Knowledge Transfer Awards continue to consolidate themselves as an initiative that brings companies closer to the classroom and demonstrates the potential of VET to generate applied innovation, young talent and concrete responses to today’s challenges.

FPEmpresa and Grupo Esprinet Recognise Innovation with the Winners of the 5th Vocational Education Knowledge Transfer Awards
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FPEmpresa and Grupo Esprinet Recognise Innovation with the Winners of the 5th Vocational Education Knowledge Transfer Awards

  • The call gathered 64 projects from 44 educational centres across Spain, confirming the continued growth of this initiative.
  • The winners, from centres in La Rioja, Valencia, Murcia and Barcelona, addressed challenges such as post-mastectomy recovery, rising cyberbullying, home accessibility for women with disabilities, and more sustainable alternatives to menstrual hygiene products.
  • In this edition, submitted videos reached more than 84,000 views and exceeded 22,000 likes, reflecting strong public impact and engagement.

The Association of Vocational Education and Training Centres FPEmpresa and Esprinte Group have announced the winners of the fifth edition of the Vocational Education Knowledge Transfer Awards, an initiative that highlights student talent and their ability to develop innovative solutions to real societal challenges.

This year’s edition featured a total of 64 projects from 44 educational centres across Spain, demonstrating the growing interest in initiatives that connect education with the productive sector. In addition, the fifth edition generated significant visibility, with more than 84,000 views and 22,000 likes on the project videos submitted by participating centres.

The Vocational Education Knowledge Transfer Awards aim to foster both technical and transversal skills among students, while promoting gender equality in vocational fields where female participation remains limited. In this regard, all submitted projects addressed the challenge of designing technological solutions aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, with particular attention to SDG 5, focused on gender equality.

Projects Connecting VET with Societal Challenges

The jury assessed participants’ critical thinking in problem-solving, the development of technical skills across different vocational fields, and the promotion of innovation, proactivity, and teamwork as key pillars for continuous improvement.

The awards are endowed with €5,000 for first prize, €3,300 for second prize, and two third prizes of €1,850 each, shared between the educational centre, teachers, and participating students.

The winning teams of this fifth edition were:

1st Prize: Centro Sagrado Corazón Jesuitas Logroño.

2nd Prize: CIPFP Misericordia.

3rd Prize: IES Gerardo Molina.

3rd Prize: Institut Escola del Treball.

Centro Sagrado Corazón Jesuitas Logroño received first prize with a project focused on improving the recovery of mobility and strength in the arm of women who have undergone a mastectomy after breast cancer. Their solution proposes the design and prototyping of a low-cost functional exoskeleton, produced through 3D printing, aimed at facilitating rehabilitation and improving patients’ quality of life.

From CIPFP Misericordia, winners of second prize, the focus was placed on an increasingly common issue: the rise of cyberbullying, sextortion, and other forms of digital violence. To address this, the centre proposed an interactive device located in private spaces that offers immediate and confidential support, information, and guidance to those in need.

IES Gerardo Molina and Institut Escola del Treball were awarded the two third prizes. The first project focuses on improving the accessibility of household electrical panels for women with visual impairments or reduced mobility through a system with tactile Braille labelling and mobile alerts in case of incidents. Meanwhile, the project from Institut Escola del Treball addresses the drawbacks of traditional menstrual hygiene products with the design of a reusable menstrual cup incorporating a sensory ring capable of indicating pH changes through colour variations.