On 18 July, the third edition of the Inter-University Master’s Degree in Hydrogen Technologies (MITH), a pioneering qualification in Spain that is committed to training professionals in one of the strategic sectors of the energy transition, was held on the Mondragon Unibertsitatea campus in Bilbao.
A total of 32 students graduated at the event, which was held simultaneously at the four centres that offer this training -Bilbao, Barcelona, Tarragona and Zaragoza-. At the Bilbao site, the ceremony was presided over by Pedro Luis Arias (Professor and Researcher at the UPV/EHU), José Ignacio Zudaire (President of the Basque Hydrogen Corridor and Deputy CEO of Petronor), José María Canales (coordinator of the master’s degree at Mondragon Unibertsitatea) and Sergio San Martín, Director of Innovation at the Somorrostro Training Centre, an entity that is an active part of this innovative training programme.
The Inter-University Master’s Degree in Hydrogen Technologies is the result of a powerful academic and technological alliance between five universities – Mondragon Unibertsitatea, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya, Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Euskal Herriko Unibertsitatea and Universidad de Zaragoza – and six training and research centres: Centro Integrado de FP Somorrostro, Centro de FP Comte de Rius, Institut Escola del Treball, Centro Público Integrado de FP Pirámide, Fundación del Hidrógeno en Aragón and Escuela de Organización Industrial.
Somorrostro’s participation in this master’s degree is a clear commitment to specialised training, inter-territorial collaboration and the promotion of new skills that will be essential for the industry of the future. As Sergio San Martín explained during the event, ‘being part of this network of centres allows us to contribute to the development of a strategic sector such as hydrogen from the vocational training sector, reinforcing the necessary balance between university and technical profiles in this emerging field’.
Cutting-edge training, with real impact
Although the master’s degree is taught online, all students develop a Master’s Final Project in collaboration with companies or agents in the sector. In this edition, the projects have tackled major challenges, such as designing electrolysis plants, developing hydrogen storage systems, and evaluating the environmental impact of mobility solutions based on this energy vector.
Two outstanding prizes were also awarded during the ceremony. The Prize for the Best Master’s Thesis, awarded by Carburos Metálicos, will enable the winner to travel to Rotterdam to explore the Air Products hydrogen industrial ecosystem. The Basque Hydrogen Corridor Prize for the best academic record went to Ekhi Díaz de Corcuera Muguerza, a student at the Bilbao headquarters, who will travel to Brussels to attend Hydrogen Week.
A commitment to talent for decarbonisation
The master’s degree offers a comprehensive and up-to-date vision of the multiple technologies associated with hydrogen production, storage, distribution and application – and responds to the growing demand for qualified professionals to face the challenges of decarbonisation in sectors such as energy, transport and heavy industry.
With nearly 200 professionals trained since its first edition, this master’s degree has consolidated its position as a reference at a national level in the field of energy training. The involvement of centres such as Somorrostro reinforces the link between technological innovation and the commitment to training connected with the real needs of the productive environment.
