On Wednesday, the Somorrostro Training Centre hosted the 2nd Vocational Training Innovation Projects Fair, an event at which 21 innovation projects were presented. These projects were developed in collaboration between vocational training centres and companies as part of a call for proposals issued by the Ministry of Education, Vocational Training and Sport.

The event began with an official welcome from Ainara Leiba, Councillor for Education at Muskiz Town Council, who welcomed those attending the centre. Javier Laiseca, Director of the Somorrostro Training Centre, then greeted the participants and highlighted the work carried out by the teaching staff and the centres involved in the projects.

Jon Labaka, the Basque Government’s Deputy Minister for Vocational Training, officially opened the fair, emphasising the importance of initiatives such as this in promoting a model of vocational training that is closely linked to society and the local business community.

“We have been working for years on the idea of a comprehensive vocational training system, based on connection with the local environment, innovation, digitalisation and sustainability. What we see here today is a true representation of that strategy,” he highlighted during his speech.

Labaka also highlighted the work being done in schools to build knowledge and create new learning opportunities. “These projects yield much more than just models or prototypes: they foster networks of collaboration and knowledge, and open the door to new technologies and future developments,” he said.

Throughout the morning, attendees were able to visit the various exhibition stands, where projects were presented relating to key technological fields such as artificial intelligence, 5G networks, robotics, renewable energy, industrial automation and virtual reality – technologies that are transforming productive sectors and are increasingly present in vocational training.

The initiatives range from autonomous mobile robots capable of collecting data in industrial settings, to power generation simulators, industrial maintenance systems using augmented reality, and private 5G networks deployed at sporting events – all examples of how innovation and collaboration between universities and businesses enable Industry 4.0 technologies to be brought into the classroom.

The fair also saw the participation of teachers from other vocational training centres across the country who are collaborating on these projects. This is the case of Gregorio Yuste, a teacher at the Instituto Aguas Nuevas in Albacete, who attended Somorrostro as part of two of the projects presented. “On a personal level, it’s very enriching because it allows you to build a network with colleagues who share the same concerns. And on a professional level, it’s also very important because it forces you to improve, to incorporate new technologies and to continuously update the training we offer our students,” he explained.

For Yuste, the ultimate goal of this type of initiative must always be the students and their professional future. “We never forget that we are here for the students. We want them to have opportunities, to be able to develop their life plans and, at the same time, meet the real needs of businesses,” he said.

El profesor también destacó el valor de encuentros como esta feria para compartir el trabajo realizado entre centros. “Para nosotros momentos como este son muy especiales. Podemos mostrar lo que hemos hecho, ver el trabajo de otros centros y aprender unos de otros”, añadió.

A lo largo de la jornada, más de 1.000 estudiantes de Formación Profesional, ESO y Bachillerato del Centro Formación Somorrostro han pasado por los diferentes stands, donde han podido conocer de primera mano los proyectos, dialogar con el profesorado implicado y acercarse a tecnologías que marcarán el futuro de muchos sectores profesionales.

Con esta segunda edición, la Feria de Proyectos de Innovación se consolida como un espacio de encuentro para compartir conocimiento, impulsar la colaboración entre centros y empresas y acercar al alumnado a las tecnologías emergentes que están transformando la industria y la sociedad.

The teacher also highlighted the value of events such as this fair for sharing the work carried out by different schools. “For us, moments like this are very special. We can showcase what we’ve done, see the work of other schools and learn from one another,” he added.

Throughout the day, more than 1,000 students from the Vocational Training, Secondary Education and Bachillerato programmes at the Somorrostro Training Centre visited the various stands, where they were able to see the projects first-hand, talk to the teachers involved and gain an insight into technologies that will shape the future of many professional sectors.

With this second edition, the Innovation Projects Fair has established itself as a meeting place for sharing knowledge, fostering collaboration between schools and businesses, and introducing students to the emerging technologies that are transforming industry and society.

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