Category: Uncategorized

The Foundation attended the award ceremony of the 3rd edition of the Catalonia FP Biz Day Awards, held on 28 October 2026 at 5:00 p.m. at the Can Roig i Torres Auditorium in Santa Coloma de Gramenet.

The Catalonia FP Biz Day Awards, promoted by the Department of Education and Vocational Training in collaboration with CaixaBank Dualiza, recognise good practices implemented by companies, institutions and educational centres in the management and training of students undertaking work placements as part of dual vocational education and training (VET).

In this third edition, the Urban Planning Department of Barcelona City Council, in collaboration with Institut Escola del Treball, and the Barcelona Municipal Institute of Housing and Rehabilitation (IMAHB), in collaboration with Institut Poblenou, were recognised with the Excellence Quality Certifications.

Both municipal departments are part of the Barcelona City Council Dual VET Project, which welcomes around 300 VET students every year across 23 professional profiles. This initiative is a clear benchmark for public institutions committed to high-quality intensive dual vocational education and training.

High-quality vocational education and training is built through collaboration: committed educational centres, engaged companies and shared projects that create real opportunities for students and generate a positive impact on the local community.

The Fundació BCN Formació Professional took part in the roundtable discussion Career Opportunities in the Transport and Logistics Sector, a key space for connecting young talent from vocational education and training (VET) programmes with the realities and needs of the business sector.

Angel Tarriño Ruiz, Coordinator of the Foundation’s VET Observatory, joined representatives from the sector, including Lluis Batlle (Calsina Carré) and Cristian Garcia Venegas (EGD Logistics), in a session moderated by Abril Plasencia Queralt (Cluster Catalonia Logistics).

Throughout the session, the discussion highlighted the transformation of a strategic sector that no longer simply moves goods, but also manages data, sustainability and technology.

New professional profiles and career prospects: Demand is growing for professionals in fleet management, logistics planning and international traffic management, with genuine opportunities for VET students to progress within companies.

Key skills: Beyond technical knowledge and language skills, companies are looking for soft skills such as adaptability, teamwork, curiosity and a proactive attitude towards digitalisation and decarbonisation.

We continue to bring vocational education and training closer to the labour market, helping young talent shape their professional future.

The Accelerator is a tool designed to help companies recruit young talent from 16 educational institutions across 9 municipalities.

Over the past few weeks, participants have combined their professional placements with sociocultural activities to discover their surroundings and enjoy an enriching international experience.

We are now getting ready for their return in November and the start of the follow-up phase!

On 13 and 14 October, Xarxa FP took part in several activities in Viborg (Denmark), hosted by the Mercantec and Asmildkloster Agricultural College educational institutions, as part of an international gathering bringing together member institutions of the network, as well as representatives and professionals from various European countries.

On 14 October, the 56th Executive Committee Meeting of Xarxa FP took place at Mercantec’s facilities, with the participation of the members of the association’s governing body. The meeting began with an official welcome from the President of Xarxa FP and addressed several key issues concerning the network’s operations and strategic development.

At the same time, Xarxa FP participated in the event Building a Greener Future Together, an international gathering organised in Viborg that focused on sustainability and the green transition through three main thematic areas: sustainable materials and construction; sustainable food; and natural resources and technology, well-being and social responsibility.

The event brought together more than 50 students from Xarxa FP member institutions, who had the opportunity to share experiences, work in international teams and take part in practical workshops and innovation activities. The programme combined inspiring talks, collaborative working sessions, student-led project presentations and cultural activities.

Highlights included a workshop on sustainable construction, focusing on the use of straw as a building material; a practical session on climate-friendly food systems, involving the preparation of a meal using sustainable and wild ingredients; and a workshop exploring the relationship between technology and well-being.

The event provided an opportunity to strengthen cooperation among Xarxa FP member institutions, encourage the exchange of good practices and bring students closer to the environmental and social challenges that will shape the future of different professional sectors.

Through this combination of institutional and educational activities, Xarxa FP continues to strengthen its European dimension and its commitment to vocational education and training connected to the challenges of the green transition, innovation and international cooperation.

On 19 October 2026, the gala for the 12th edition of the Dona TIC Awards 2026 was held at the Petit Palau – Palau de la Música Catalana. The awards aim to recognise women’s talent and promote their leadership in the technology and digital sectors.

Fundació BCN Formació Professional is part of the jury for these awards, which are divided into eight categories and two subcategories. One of these recognises a VET ICT student who has developed an outstanding project or initiative in this field.

The award recipients and finalists in the VET ICT Student 2026 subcategory are:

• Winner: Seynabou Aidara Fall, a student on the Higher VET programme in Networked Computer Systems Administration (ASIX) at Institut TIC de Barcelona. She is involved in the SomMentora project, an initiative based on adapting the SomHi platform to promote female mentoring in technology studies. The project connects former students with new students to provide guidance, strengthen their confidence and offer real role models in the ICT sector.
• Finalist: Neha Tehreem, a student on the specialisation course in Cybersecurity in Information Technology Environments at Institut Esteve Terradas i Illa in Cornellà de Llobregat. She completed the Intermediate VET programme in Microcomputer Systems and Networks (SMX) and the Higher VET programme in Multiplatform Application Development (DAM) at Institut Eugeni d’Ors in Vilafranca del Penedès. She is a VET ambassador for the Barcelona Chamber of Commerce.
• Finalist: Laia Mestres Güell, a student on the specialisation course in Artificial Intelligence and Big Data at Jesuïtes El Clot in Barcelona. She completed the Higher VET programme in Web Application Development (DAW) at Ilerna. She has developed a WhatsApp-based system that enables users to search for products on Amazon using natural language processing (NLP).

In the Reskilling and/or Upskilling subcategory:

• Winner: Ana Sánchez Valentín, a student on the Higher VET programme in Networked Computer Systems Administration (ASIX) at Institut La Mercè in Barcelona. Her project is entitled Architecture of a Scalable WordPress on Kubernetes.

Congratulations to all the winners and finalists, as well as to the educational institutions, tutors and teachers! There is a wealth of female digital talent. Let’s make women in ICT VET visible and recognise their value!

---

Press release from the Government of Catalonia here.

• The awards have recognised 4 individual career paths, 4 vocational education and training centres, 5 companies and organisations, and 3 users of training centres.
• Minister Niubó: “Our strength lies in knowledge, and thanks to our VET system, we can help channel the initiative and drive of young people, professionals and the productive sector”.
• Minister Sàmper: “The greatest competitive advantage our country can have is the ability of its people to grow, adapt and make new things possible”.

This Wednesday, the Minister for Education and Vocational Training, Esther Niubó, and the Minister for Business and Labour, Miquel Sàmper, presented the #FPCAT 2025 Awards at a ceremony marking their seventh edition.

We took part in the 7th edition of the #FPCAT Awards, which recognise the people and organisations that contribute to building high-quality vocational education and training.

At the ceremony, Júlia Sudan was recognised. She holds an advanced vocational qualification in Telecommunications and Computer Systems, which she studied at Escola del Treball. She works at the CSIC’s UTM in operations in Antarctica and is currently studying for a degree in Computer Engineering at the UOC. She was a finalist in the 2023 DONA TIC Awards, in the VET student category, and is an inspiring role model for women in STEAM-related vocational education and training. Congratulations, Júlia.

An example of talent, perseverance and specialisation that highlights the opportunities offered by VET and serves as a role model for future generations.

On 14 October, the annual meeting of mobility coordinators for the 2026–2027 academic year took place, marking the launch of a new call for international mobility projects.

This new call will involve more than 70 VET centres, which will have the opportunity to take part in the Foundation’s various mobility projects. The meeting marked the start of a new year of mobility programmes, in which cooperation between centres and project coordination will be key to continuing to promote the internationalisation of vocational education and training.

The Foundation participated in the 7th edition of EFINTEC 2026, on Thursday, 8 October, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., during the Talent, Training and Reskilling session, held at Fira-Gran Via.

• Opening presentation, “The Invisible Engine”, delivered by Marta Rodríguez, President of the Foundation.
• Presentation of four success stories, including the Dual VET Accelerator, presented by Àngel Tarriño, coordinator of the Foundation’s Observatory.
• Roundtable: Talent, Professionalisation and the Value Chain, featuring the keynote speaker and the four success stories related to talent attraction, training, qualification and development in the sector.

EFINTEC is the leading professional trade fair for companies in the installation and energy sectors. It is a meeting point where innovation, technology and talent are transformed into real business opportunities.

Driving a NEW ENERGY ERA through Vocational Education and Training!

Press release here:

https://www.fegicat.com/news/efintec-2026-tanca-la-seva-setena-edicio-amb-el-lliurament-de-la-1a-edicio-dels-premis-efintec-presidit-pel-president-salvador-illa

The BCN Vocational Training Foundation took part in BNEW – Barcelona New Economy Week, held at DFactory Barcelona on 6 October, participating in the panel discussion “Career Transitions: Building Talent for the New Economy“; the session provided an opportunity to reflect on how digital transformation, the green transition and changes in the world of work are leading to increasingly non-linear career paths, where transferable skills, lifelong learning and adaptability are key.

Vocational Education and Training (VET) can play a fundamental role in career transitions by enabling people to acquire or update the skills they need to adapt to the new economy.

CONNECTING TALENT AND BUSINESSES, promoting VET and

TRANSFORMING THE ECONOMY is also our mission.

#Talent #VET #BNEW2026 #NewEconomy