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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!

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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

On 30 September, the Plenary Session of the Barcelona Economic and Social Council, of which the Foundation is a member, was held. During the session, the Barcelona Socioeconomic Report 2025 was presented. Social partners also took part in the session. The welcome address was delivered by Deputy Mayor Raquel Gil, while the closing remarks were given by Eduard Rojo, President of the Council.

The BCN VET Foundation continues to welcome international students within the framework of the 2026 training mobility programs. On this occasion, the city welcomes a student from Zwolle, in the Netherlands, who will carry out his training stay in Barcelona in the information technology (IT) sector.

This international mobility, promoted with the collaboration of XarxaFP, allows the student to expand their knowledge and acquire professional experience in an international environment, while also promoting the exchange of knowledge and experiences between European educational centers.

The Barcelona Institute of Technology participates in this initiative, contributing to the reception of the student and facilitating the development of their training stay.

These initiatives reinforce the international dimension of vocational training and consolidate Barcelona as a host city for European students, promoting cooperation between educational institutions and learning opportunities in the technological field.

At the BCN VET Foundation we continue to support international mobility as a tool to promote cultural exchange and the enrichment of professional training.

The young participants of the ALMA project are starting a new stage of their itinerary with the international stay in France, Italy and Denmark.

Over the next few weeks, the participants will combine professional internships in companies and entities in the destination country with various cultural and learning activities, which will allow them to get to know their environment, discover the local culture and adapt to life in the new country.

This experience offers them the opportunity to develop professional and personal skills, gain autonomy and broaden their horizons, while living a first-hand experience of European mobility.

With this new stage, they will take another step in their process of personal and professional growth within the framework of the project.

Judit and Helena, who are studying the Laboratory Operations vocational training programme, have had the opportunity to experience Erasmus during their work placement at Hilti, located in Kaufering, near Munich, Germany.

During their stay, they had the chance to experience first-hand what it is like to work in an international professional environment related to their field of study, putting into practice the knowledge they acquired throughout their studies and discovering new ways of working.

Beyond the professional experience, this placement has allowed them to develop new skills, adapt to a different environment and enjoy a personal and cultural experience that they are unlikely to forget.

In an interview, Judit and Helena tell us about their experience, what they have learned during their work placement and the highlights of their Erasmus stay.

An opportunity to learn, grow professionally and discover the world beyond the classroom.