We are starting a new stage of the European project Build your VETer Future Challenge, coordinated by Xarxa FP, with the celebration of the Exploratory Session, which will take place from 24 to 26 February 2026 in Barcelona.

During these days, we will host 25 students and 5 tutors from vocational education and training centers in Barcelona, Rovaniemi, Leuven, Treviso and Viborg, who will begin working together on a challenge related to sustainable construction, co-developed jointly with the company EGOIN, also linked to the project.

This exploration phase will allow us to officially present the challenge, share the Challenge-Based Learning methodology, and launch the international teams, made up of one student from each city. We will also work on defining the approach of each project and establish the foundations of the collaborative work that will take place over the coming months.

The activities will mainly take place at Institut Provençana and in spaces of Barcelona Activa.

The Premis FPemprèn have launched a new edition of the Pre-consolida programme, a training initiative aimed at participating students with the goal of strengthening entrepreneurial skills and fostering the development of the business projects submitted to the 17th edition of the awards.

The Pre-consolida programme consists of four practical workshops that combine theoretical content with applied dynamics. Its purpose is to provide a collaborative learning space where participants can improve their projects, receive individualised guidance and share experiences with other students who are also developing their business ideas.

The first session of the Pre-consolida programme took place on 13 February in person at Citilab in Cornellà de Llobregat.

Entitled “Awaken Your Creativity! Neuroscience and Techniques to Generate Business Ideas”, the workshop enabled participants to develop innovative ideas for high-impact business models. The session was delivered by Juan Álvarez de Lara from Solvere Capital.

With this first session, the FPemprèn Awards reaffirm their commitment to supporting and consolidating entrepreneurial talent in vocational education, providing practical tools to turn ideas into viable projects with social and economic impact.

On February 10, we attended the extraordinary meeting of the Barcelona Municipal Council for Vocational Training, a key space for participation and coordination among institutions, educational centers, and social agents to continue promoting Vocational Education and Training (VET) in the city.

The session included a speech by the Secretary General for Vocational Training of the Ministry of Education, Vocational Training and Sports, Esther Monterrubio Ariznabarreta, who shared the Ministry’s main strategic lines in VET and the future challenges of the system.

During the day, we also visited leading centers in gastronomy and audiovisuals, highlighting the quality and innovative capacity of Barcelona’s training offerings.

From the Foundation, we highly value these meeting spaces, which allow us to strengthen partnerships, share experiences, and continue working together for high-quality Vocational Education and Training, closely connected to the productive sector and tailored to the real needs of individuals and companies.

On February 3, 4, 5 and 6, 2026, we took part in the 2nd Vocational Education and Training (VET) Fair of Baix Llobregat, held at La Granja de la Ricarda in El Prat de Llobregat. The fair was a unique opportunity to bring vocational training opportunities closer to the region and to connect students, families, career advisors, companies and educational institutions.

During these days, we organized and took part in a practical session on implementing Dual VET, where we addressed the different modalities, scholarships, contracts and Social Security registration for both apprentices and the role of tutors. We also presented the “Dual VET Accelerator”, a one-stop service to request apprentices, reduce paperwork and processing times, and offer personalized support. In addition, we facilitated a roundtable discussion with leading companies from the region to showcase, through real cases, the potential of Dual VET.

Overall, the fair served as a platform to promote collaboration between education and business and to generate more employment opportunities. We feel motivated by the commitment shown by all participating individuals and organizations, and we will continue working to ensure that VET remains a key tool for employability, innovation and the development of our community.

Today we received a visit from José Luis Durán, president of the Vocational Training Qualification Agency of Catalonia (FPCAT), who shared with us the main updates of the 5th General Plan of the FPCAT system 2025-2028.

During the meeting, Durán explained the strategic lines that will shape the future of vocational training in Catalonia in the coming years, emphasizing the adaptation of the system to the needs of the productive sector, the improvement of employability, and the strengthening of VET as a key tool for social and economic transformation.

The new plan aims to consolidate a more flexible, innovative, and territory-connected VET model, capable of responding to the current and future challenges of the labor market.

More information at Home. Public Agency for Vocational Training and Qualification of Catalonia and on X at @FPCAT_

The BCN Vocational Training Foundation is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, two decades dedicated to promoting, strengthening, and growing Vocational Training as a key tool for the economic and social development of the city and its metropolitan area.

Since its creation, the Foundation has worked to connect the educational world with the business sector, promoting innovative projects, international mobility programs, career guidance, and initiatives that have helped improve employability and young talent.

Under the motto “20 years growing VET”, this anniversary also aims to be a moment of recognition for all the people, educational centers, companies, and institutions that have made this journey possible and continue to support high-quality Vocational Training, adapted to present and future challenges.

Having female role models in the field of STEAM vocational training is key to combating gender segregation and encouraging vocations in traditionally male-dominated sectors.

These role models help female students identify real and attainable career opportunities, strengthen confidence in their technical abilities, and break down stereotypes about industrial and technological professions. At the same time, they contribute to creating more diverse, equitable training and working environments aligned with the current needs of the labour market.

Within this framework, the BCN Vocational Training Foundation promotes an initiative to highlight, each month, a female role model in STEAM vocational training, with the aim of recognising female talent and bringing inspiring career paths closer to students. In the ICT student category: Vocational Training subcategory, this month’s featured woman is Lua Trevín Hernaiz, recognised at the Dona TIC Awards.

Lua Trevín completed the Higher Vocational Training Cycle in Multiplatform Application Development at the Barcelona Technological Institute. Her project focuses on the development of an accreditation system in the field of vocational training based on the European blockchain infrastructure, an innovative proposal linked to the concept of sovereign digital identity.

This system would allow vocational training diplomas to be issued at the request of the students themselves, as well as their verification by external entities. In addition to her technical work, Lua Trevín actively participates in events organised at her educational centre and at other institutions, thereby reinforcing her role as a close and accessible role model for students.

In the same category, Lucía Rodríguez Iniesta and Ariadna Pascual Palau were also finalists, and we would like to acknowledge their talent and contribution to increasing the visibility of women in the ICT and STEAM fields.

The 2nd Baix Llobregat Vocational Training Fair will be held on 3, 4, 5 and 6 February 2026 at the Granja de la Ricarda in Prat de Llobregat, with the aim of connecting students, families, guidance counsellors and companies with the vocational training of the future through workshops, talks and practical activities on career opportunities and labour market integration. In this new edition, the BCN Vocational Training Foundation is actively participating in various activities at the fair, with a special focus on the space where detailed information will be provided about the new dual vocational training accelerator service of the Llobregat Delta, an initiative aimed at fostering links between training centres and companies to promote innovative dual training programmes with real career opportunities for young people.

Check activities and agenda:

www.firafpbaixllobregat.cat 

On 19 January, the BCN Vocational Training Foundation took part in the inaugural meeting of the Dual Vocational Training Steering Council, an initiative promoted by the Bertelsmann Foundation that brings together institutions, educational centres, companies and other key stakeholders linked to Vocational Education and Training.

The Steering Council was created as a space for monitoring, reflection and proposals, with the aim of addressing the main challenges associated with the implementation of the dual nature of vocational training and contributing to the improvement of its quality. Its lines of work include the generation of improvement proposals, the identification and dissemination of good practices, and the promotion of debate at territorial and sectoral levels.

The participation of the BCN Vocational Training Foundation in this body aligns with our commitment to promoting high-quality, equitable dual vocational training that is connected to the needs of the productive sector and educational centres. Through this collaboration, we contribute the perspective and experience of the Barcelona ecosystem to the national debate on the future of vocational education and training.