Vocational Education and Training take centre stage in the educational offering at Semana de la Educación (Education Week) 2026
The event, which will be held at IFEMA MADRID from 11 to 15 March, will feature several vocational education and training options for future students.
Vocational Education and Training (VET) is experiencing one of its most significant periods of consolidation in Spain. This trend will be evident in the offer at the upcoming edition of the Semana de la Educación (Education Week), which has stepped up its commitment to Vocational Education and Training by making it a key focus. From 11 to 15 March, Halls 12 and 14 of the Recinto Ferial at IFEMA MADRID will host a wide variety of vocational training centres that offer this type of education, as well as practical activities and forums led by professionals, focused on academic guidance and knowledge of the most in-demand professions.
According to the latest data from the Ministry of Education, Vocational Training and Sports, there are already 1.18 million students in vocational training, with sustained growth in both the Intermediate and Advanced Levels. This option plays a key role within the educational system and serves as a pathway to employment, with employment rates of over 70% among graduates, in addition to facilitating continuity towards higher education.
This growth reflects a change in current educational pathways, which are increasingly flexible and combined, where Vocational Training coexists and complements university education and continuous training, imparting skills related to sustainability and new production models. Vocational training is a strategic option not only for young people, but also for adults seeking requalification and adaptation processes to a constantly evolving labour market.
Vocational Training itineraries and specialisations for different profiles
Future students visiting Semana de la Educación (Education Week) will discover opportunities in training pathways, specialities and educational options offered by Vocational Education and Training through a diverse offer adapted to current demand.
Among the specialised centres present, there will be interesting proposals with a good record of accomplishment and strong links to employability in both vocational training and employment training and sectoral skills development. The participants will include, among others, ATEM Estudio y Formación, BAI Escuela de Azafatas y Tripulantes, CEAC FP, Central Aeronáutica Madrid, Centro de Estudios ISED, Corflight School, Cruz Roja Española, Escade Escuela de Formación Deportiva, European Flyers, FEEDA, FlyBai, Fundación Juan XXIII, Fundación Laboral de la Construcción, Fundación del Metal para la Formación, IFP, ILERNA Online and Institutos Nebrija, all of which are committed to practical teaching aligned with the real demands of the labour market.
In this regard, Juan Francisco Jiménez, Executive Director of CEAC Formación Profesional states that “current data shows that vocational training is increasingly seen as an effective educational alternative” and highlights that “around 59% of young people in Spain have a positive view of vocational training because of its ability to facilitate rapid and specialised job placement”, which demonstrates “its key role in facilitating access to employment in sectors with high demand for qualified technicians”.
Meanwhile, David Navalón, director of the Spanish Red Cross Vocational Training Centre, emphasises that “practical training, connected with the business sector and focused on people, opens up real opportunities, especially for groups in vulnerable situations”.
In the sectoral field, Javier González, director of Training and Employment at the Labour Foundation for Construction, points out that “vocational training is the best way to provide students with skills tailored to a sector like construction”, while Héctor Aguirre, coordinator-manager of the Fundación del Metal para la Formación (Metal Foundation for Training), recalls that “in the last year, 14,800 people have joined the metalwork sector” and that “the need for qualified professionals remains high, with up to 350,000 jobs to be filled in the coming years to ensure generational replacement and the new needs of booming economic sectors.”
With the theme, ‘Sustainability, your future starts here’, La Semana de la Educación (Education Week) will feature a wide range of the current Vocational Education and Training offer at IFEMA MADRID, providing attendees with practical information, with the help of professionals, about pathways, specialities and educational opportunities. The educational event includes the AULA, Digielearning, Postgrado y Formación Continua (International Higher Education and Ongoing Training Fair), and Schools Day fairs from 11 to 15 March.