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.

The celebration event will take place on March 23, 2026, a notable date to highlight the Foundation’s trajectory and reaffirm its commitment to the growth of VET as a driver of opportunities, innovation, and social cohesion in Barcelona.

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.

On 19 January, the Foundation attended the celebration event marking the 18th anniversary of the In-Forma’t 2026 campaign, promoted by the Youth Department of the Barcelona City Council, with whom we collaborate to promote academic guidance for young people in the city.

In this special edition, the campaign’s trajectory was reviewed through a video covering its 18 years, the latest developments of the In-Forma’t campaign were presented, and we were able to share learnings and reflections on the future of guidance, delivered by the Bofill Foundation, El Despertador and the SEER Foundation – Emotional Health and Education. The event concluded with a monologue by Fran Rojas featuring a dynamic proposal entitled “Academic Guidance as a Competition”.

During the month of January, we launched the MetròpolisFPLab creativity workshops, in collaboration with SDLI. More than 1,100 students took part in the 7 workshops held, with the aim of developing their projects through various creativity techniques and shaping their ideas to address real challenges faced by participating companies and organisations.

The workshops were held at the Citilab in Cornellà and at the Roca Umbert space in Granollers, bringing together sessions of more than 150 students at a time to work jointly on innovative solutions.

From this point onwards, the teams will be able to present their first proposals and start creating their first prototypes.

We keep innovating!

The BCN Vocational Training Foundation is launching the second edition of the ALMA project, a European mobility initiative with an inclusive approach aimed at young people aged between 18 and 29 who are in vulnerable situations. The project is part of the ALMA Programme promoted by the Public Employment Service of Catalonia and financed by the European Social Fund, with the aim of fostering labour market integration, returning to the education system and progressing towards full social inclusion.

This new edition offers 15 places and foresees two-month professional traineeships in companies or organisations in Germany, France or Italy, expanding the project’s international scope.

The programme is structured in three phases:

1. Preparation in Catalonia, including face-to-face language training, pedagogical and intercultural preparation, social and civic activities, and individual and group mentoring;
2. International mobility, with the traineeship period in the destination countries;
3. Return and follow-up, aimed at transforming the experience into real employment opportunities or educational pathways.

The Foundation is undertaking this second edition following the positive results of the first one. At the closing event of the previous edition, the impact of the project on the personal autonomy, self-esteem, resilience, and social and professional skills of the participating young people was highlighted, as well as the networking carried out by institutional stakeholders and collaborating organisations that made it possible.

All information about the project, participation requirements and the steps to follow to formalise registration can be found on our website: ALMA Program – BCN FP Foundation