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At the Veolia School headquarters, we participated in the Conference on debate and reflection on lifelong learning, a strategic meeting to analyse the role of higher education in promoting lifelong learning in Catalonia. The event provided a meeting space for universities, vocational education and training centres, companies, public administrations and social stakeholders to share perspectives and experiences aimed at rethinking roles, breaking down silos and strengthening collaboration within the lifelong learning ecosystem.

Building on the conclusions and recommendations of the new report by ACUP, “The role of higher education institutions in promoting lifelong learning in Catalonia”, developed with the participation of a wide range of quadruple helix stakeholders, the conference moved the debate to a more operational level, focusing on collaborations that are already enabling new ways of teaching and learning. In this regard, successful practices were presented to demonstrate how cooperation helps design more relevant, agile training proposals that are better connected to regional needs and the productive sector.

Neus Pons, Managing Director of the Fundación BCN Formación Profesional, moderated the presentation session. From Fundación BCN Formación Profesional, we highlight the importance of promoting strong partnerships between universities, vocational training centres, companies and public administrations to ensure flexible, inclusive learning pathways aligned with the real needs of the productive sector.

The event was opened by Àngels Fitó, President of ACUP and Rector of the Universitat Oberta de Catalunya; and Marina Arnaldos, Manager of Cetaqua Barcelona. It included a panel on successful collaborative models in continuing education, where good practices of cooperation between companies, public administrations and educational institutions were shared, as well as a discussion panel on the future of the lifelong learning ecosystem in Catalonia, focused on governance, funding and adaptation to emerging professional profiles.

Through this participation, we reaffirm our active role in building a more integrated, innovative lifelong learning system aligned with the country’s challenges.

The report can be downloaded from the Plataforma CTI website (www.plataformacti.cat/).

On Friday, February 20 at 10 a.m., the Monitoring Committee of the Dual VET project at Barcelona City Council took place in the Barcelona Room of the Mobility, Infrastructure and Works Area Management (Av. Diagonal, 240. 08018 Barcelona).

This committee, which is convened annually, aims to review and monitor Dual VET scholarship students for the 2025–2026 academic year, as well as to present updates and the proposed planning for the 2026–2027 academic year.

The session brought together more than 50 representatives from VET centres, municipal departments (districts, management areas and municipal institutes), professionals from the Barcelona Education Consortium, the People, Organization and Electronic Administration Management of Barcelona City Council, as well as the Foundation that coordinates the City Council’s placement requests.

During the 2025–2026 academic year, Barcelona City Council hosted 298 Dual VET scholarship students from 22 VET centres (14 public and 8 publicly funded private schools) corresponding to 19 professional profiles, with an investment of €1.3 million.

This February marks the start of the 2026–2027 project, in which students will complete 865 hours of scholarship-based training in the various municipal departments.

From 2013 to the present, Barcelona City Council has incorporated 2,868 intensive Dual VET scholarship students. If we add the 50 students hosted over three years by BTV and the Barcelona Public Health Agency (companies partly owned by the City Council), the total rises to 2,918 trained scholarship students, with a global investment of €9.8 million.

This week we kicked off the first intercultural workshop aimed at the young people who have been selected to take part in an international experience within the Erasmus+ programme.

The session was a key opportunity to begin preparing their journey beyond logistical aspects. During the workshop, participants reflected on:

• Cultural differences and how to manage them with respect and openness.
• Stereotypes and prejudices, and how to identify and overcome them.
• Communication skills in intercultural contexts.
• Adapting to new social, educational and professional environments.

Through participatory activities, role-playing and discussion spaces, the young participants shared their expectations, concerns and motivations. This preparatory work is essential to ensure that the international stay is not only an academic or professional experience, but also a meaningful life-learning journey.

This workshop marks the first step in a support pathway that will continue before, during and after the mobility period. Our goal is for each participant to leave equipped with tools, confidence and intercultural awareness to make the most of this opportunity.

From the Foundation, we continue to promote internationalisation as a tool for personal and professional growth, and to ensure high-quality experiences that leave a lasting impact.

More than 70 students, accompanied by their families, took part in the information session on the international mobility opportunities of the Erasmus+ programme planned for 2025. The meeting was a key space to share all the necessary information before starting this training experience abroad.

During the session, the objectives of the mobility, the planned schedule, the destinations, academic aspects and company internships were explained, as well as the administrative procedures and required documentation. Practical matters related to accommodation, insurance, support during the stay and communication channels with the school were also addressed.

One of the highlights was the open Q&A session, where students and families were able to resolve doubts about living arrangements, cultural adaptation, financial management and academic monitoring. This exchange helped strengthen confidence and provide reassurance regarding an experience that, for many, will be their first long stay abroad.

Erasmus mobility is not only an academic opportunity, but also an experience of personal and professional growth. Participants develop language skills, autonomy, adaptability and an international outlook that significantly enhances their employability.

With this information session, we take another step forward in preparing the 2025 mobilities, reaffirming our commitment to internationalisation and to providing close support to both students and their families.

This week, Barcelona has become the stage for the project “Innovation Staffmobility: Peer to peer.” We had the pleasure of hosting a group of teachers from Fondazione Lepido Rocco, Italy, in a shared learning stay with several vocational education and training centers in our city.

The goal? To share teaching methodologies, explore the Catalan VET system, and foster international collaboration. The visitors were able to participate in observation sessions and working meetings with local teaching teams, creating synergies that enrich both educational systems.

We firmly believe that staff mobility is the key to a more innovative VET, connected to global challenges. Thank you Fondazione Lepido Rocco and everyone involved!

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.