\ The number of students enrolled remains constant despite the full employment situation in the Balearic Islands.
\ This year, 118 more teachers will be incorporated to teach training cycles and certificates of professionalism.
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\ Vocational training has experienced a significant increase in demand over the last four years, around 65%.
\ Significant increase in the offer, with 25 more cycles than the previous academic year, 2 new specialisation courses and 11 distance learning modules.
The Councillor for Education and Vocational Training, Martí March, accompanied by the Director General of Vocational Training and Higher Artistic Education, Antoni Baos, the head of the Department of Vocational Training and Professional Qualifications, Víctor Arjona, and the Director General of Economic Model and Employment, Llorenç Pou, today presented the main new features of the 2022-2023 academic year in terms of vocational training on the occasion of tomorrow, Friday 23 September, the start of teaching activities for these courses in the Balearic Islands.
For the 2022-2023 academic year there has been a significant increase in the offer, with 25 more cycles being introduced than the previous academic year, 2 new specialisation courses and the offer has been diversified and completed with 11 distance learning modules, which means that approximately 800 more newly created places will be available than last year.
This increase is possible thanks to the Extraordinary Territorial Cooperation Programme promoted by the Ministry of Education and Vocational Training. Through this programme, the Balearic Islands can invest a total of 18,780,835 euros to create new vocational training places, implement the pilot plan for reinforcement in foreign languages, accredit professional skills and promote teacher training, entrepreneurship and the conversion of classrooms into spaces for applied technology. This initiative has been integrated into the Comprehensive Vocational Training Plan promoted by the Government of the Balearic Islands.
In addition, the number of teachers has also grown significantly, with 118 new teachers joining the VET classrooms this year.
Vocational training has experienced a significant increase in demand over the last few years (65% in the last four years). In this sense, these figures are sufficiently consolidated to confirm a change in the social perception of vocational training, which is now considered a real option for the future by families, students and companies alike.
It should be borne in mind that in the last four academic years (from 2019-2020 to 2022-2023) 4,600 places have been created and this increase in supply has been key to raising by 5 points, compared to the 2018-2019 academic year, the percentage of students who obtain a place in the options they have marked in first or second place. It is currently 75%.
There are currently 16,800 students enrolled in on-site vocational training, who start the school year in the Balearic Islands tomorrow. It should be borne in mind that the enrolment period for vocational training has not yet ended, both for distance learning students and for those who have not obtained a place in the first phase of the process – who may be allocated a vacancy that interests them in the second phase – and also for those who submit applications after the 28 September deadline, by requesting an appointment.
The number of enrolments today is practically the same as last year, with the difference that this autonomous community is in a situation of full employment, a fact that always affects vocational training, as they are work-oriented studies.
From the 2021-2022 academic year, the educational centres are coordinating to generalise a training offer for employment integrated in the centres, so that occupational training is also provided in the educational centres and with their own teaching staff. In this sense, it is worth remembering that this year 96 certificates of professionalism and 81 training specialities/digital skills will be offered, with the forecast of reaching 2,801 students. To make this possible, the educational centres will be open in the evenings.
This year, the pilot plan for reinforcement in foreign languages in intermediate vocational training cycles, which was implemented in the 2021-202 academic year, will be continued and extended to all publicly funded centres offering vocational training in the Balearic Islands.
This pilot plan for reinforcement in foreign languages will be applied to two modules of the first year of the cycle and two modules of the second year of the cycle, which will be taught in a foreign language (English, French or German). Participation in this pilot plan, which is voluntary for pupils, makes it possible to prepare for the exams leading to official language qualifications, as well as facilitating participation in training stays in European Union countries.
In the 2022-2023 academic year, the pilot plan for reinforcement in foreign languages will continue to be implemented in the 20 groups that began last year, and it is planned to expand to 21 more groups (13 in Mallorca, 4 in Menorca, 3 in Ibiza and 1 in Formentera).
New cycles and new implementations
In total, the new academic year will offer 490 first-year groups: 94 basic degree courses, 234 intermediate degree courses, 153 higher degree courses and 9 specialisation courses in all modalities and regimes. Specifically, the new course incorporates 25 new cycles and 2 new specialisation courses.
Of the 25 new cycles, 12 are higher level (CFGS), 8 are intermediate level (CFGM) and 5 are basic level (CFGB). Of these 25, five are intensive (the new name for dual vocational training).
In the case of the basic level training cycle, the Agro-gardening and floral compositions cycle has been implemented at the IES Baltasar Porcel (Andratx); the Access and conservation of sports facilities, at the CC Totheducatiu (Palma); Electricity and electronics, at the IES Arxíduc Lluís Salvador (Palma), and Domestic activities and building cleaning, which will be taught at the CIFP Son Llebre (Pla de na Tesa, Marratxí) and at the IES Porto Cristo (Manacor).
As for the intermediate level training courses, the following have been introduced: Interior works, decoration and rehabilitation, at IES Isidor Macabich (Ibiza) and IES Pascual Calbó i Caldés (Maó); cooking and gastronomy (intensive vocational training), at IES Isidor Macabich (Ibiza), at CIFP Juníper Serra (Palma) and at IES Maria Àngels Cardona (Ciutadella de Menorca); the catering services course at IES Puig de sa Font (Son Servera), and the pharmacy and parapharmacy course at IES Porto Cristo (Manacor) and CEPA Mancomunitat des Pla (Vilafranca de Bonany).
As for higher education, the following courses have been introduced: Management Assistance, at IES Manacor and CIFP Pau Casesnoves (Inca); Administration and Finance (intensive vocational training), at CIFP Juníper Serra (Palma) and CC CIDE (Palma); Sales and Commercial Space Management, at IES Manacor; International Trade, at IES Berenguer de Anoia (Inca); Development of Multi-platform Applications, at IES Manacor; Development of Multi-platform Applications, at IES Berenguer de Anoia (Inca); Development of Multi-platform Applications, at IES Manacor and CIFP Pau Casesnoves (Inca); Development of multi-platform applications, at IES Llucmajor and IES Son Ferrer (Calvià); Clinical and biomedical laboratory, at CC La Salle (Palma); Dental prosthesis, at CC Adema (Palma); Social integration, at IES Santa Margalida, and Styling and hairdressing management, at IES Cap de Llevant (Maó).
The offer of vocational training “masters” courses is expanding in the Balearic Islands
This academic year, five specialisation courses are being offered in seven centres, two of which are newly introduced: Video game development and virtual reality, at IES Manacor and CIFP Pau Casesnoves (Inca), and hybrid and electric vehicle maintenance, at CIFP Juníper Serra (Palma).
The courses that were introduced in the 2021-2022 academic year will be maintained: Artisan bakery and pastries, at IES Josep Sureda i Blanes (Palma); Cybersecurity in information technology environments, at IES Sa Colomina (Ibiza) and CIFP Francesc de Borja Moll (Palma), and Artificial intelligence and big data, a course that will be offered at CIFP Pau Casesnoves (Inca) and as a novelty this academic year 2022-2023 also at the Institute of Distance Learning of the Balearic Islands (IEDIB).
The specialisation courses aim to complement the skills of people who already have a VET qualification and facilitate lifelong learning, as well as improving employability and productivity. They last between 300 and 700 hours and complete the general training of the cycles by means of a specific specialisation designed to provide a rapid response to the demands of the industrial and business world.
Virtual VET studies
In addition to the on-site offer, in the 2022-2023 academic year, 11 modules will be taught in virtual mode in 3 medium-level training cycles. From the Health Emergencies cycle, the modules of Tele-emergencies, Training and Work Orientation and Business and Entrepreneurial Initiative will be offered. From the cycle of Care for dependent persons, the modules offered will be those of Social skills, Training and work orientation and Business and entrepreneurship. From the Pharmacy and Parapharmacy cycle, the following modules will be offered: Business and Entrepreneurial Initiative, Training and Work Orientation, Health Promotion, First Aid and Anatomophysiology.
As a novelty, this year the specialisation course in Artificial Intelligence and Big Data, and the higher degree in Building Projects will also be offered in virtual mode.
Intensive vocational training
It should be borne in mind that, of the total number of training cycles, only some are taught in the intensive vocational training mode (formerly known as dual vocational training). Specifically, in the current school year, 16 different cycles are being offered, of which 8 are intermediate and 8 are higher level.
This year, as a novelty, it should be noted that the Balearic Islands will be the first community in Spain to implement specific aid for companies that provide intensive dual vocational training. The line of aid, regulated by an agreement between the Ministry of Education and Vocational Training and the Official Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Services and Navigation of Mallorca, will allow companies to receive up to €2,000 in aid per student and training for tutors.
Digitalisation, innovation, and entrepreneurship in VET
The Strategic Plan for Vocational Training of the Education System 2019-2022 of the Ministry of Education and Vocational Training foresees the incorporation of digitalisation, innovation and entrepreneurship in the vocational training system. The actions being developed are supervised by the new Centre for Training, Innovation and Development of Vocational Training of the Balearic Islands (CInFP-IB), which was launched in the academic year 2021-2022. The CInFP-IB assumes, among other functions, the collaboration between the centres and companies, the management of specialised technical training by professional fields for the teaching staff and also the coordination of the entrepreneurship classrooms and the ATECA classrooms (spaces for technology applied to the productive sectors).
In the 2022-2023 academic year there are already 19 entrepreneurship classrooms in operation and the creation of 12 more classrooms is planned, which will make a total of 31 classrooms available to vocational training students. These classrooms provide the necessary tools for setting up micro-enterprises with the aim of promoting self-employment as an alternative to paid employment. The students propose a business idea and find the necessary resources to start it up with the support of an advisory tutor and the necessary administrative tools. The users of these classrooms can be students studying different training cycles, but they will also be open to former students during the 3 years following the end of their training cycle studies.
In the 2022-2023 academic year there will be a total of 15 classrooms for technology applied to the productive sector (ATECA), as 6 new ones will be added to the 9 created during the last two academic years. These spaces imitate work environments, incorporating resources specific to each productive sector by means of simulators and other technological elements. In these classrooms, students from different professional families can carry out tasks that bring them closer to the workplace and practice the use of innovative technologies, such as virtual reality, health simulators or 3D printing and scanning.
Next year, it is planned to train VET teachers in digitalisation applied to the productive sectors, as well as to continue promoting vocational training. In this regard, it should be added that in the 2021-2022 academic year, the important figure of 98 training courses organised in response to requests from all professional families was achieved. The participation of companies in this training is fundamental in order to bring the leading technological aspects closer to the teaching staff in charge of teaching the courses corresponding to the qualifications in each productive area. This year, placements in companies for VET teachers will be available throughout the academic year.
Virtual VET studies
In addition to the on-site offer, in the 2022-2023 academic year, 11 modules will be taught in virtual mode in 3 medium-level training cycles. From the Health Emergencies cycle, the modules of Tele-emergencies, Training and Work Orientation and Business and Entrepreneurial Initiative will be offered. From the cycle of Care for dependent persons, the modules offered will be those of Social skills, Training and work orientation and Business and entrepreneurship. From the Pharmacy and Parapharmacy cycle, the following modules will be offered: Business and Entrepreneurial Initiative, Training and Work Orientation, Health Promotion, First Aid and Anatomophysiology.
As a novelty, this year the specialisation course in Artificial Intelligence and Big Data, and the higher degree in Building Projects will also be offered in virtual mode.
Intensive vocational training
It should be borne in mind that, of the total number of training cycles, only some are taught in the intensive vocational training mode (formerly known as dual vocational training). Specifically, in the current school year, 16 different cycles are being offered, of which 8 are intermediate and 8 are higher level.
This year, as a novelty, it should be noted that the Balearic Islands will be the first community in Spain to implement specific aid for companies that provide intensive dual vocational training. The line of aid, regulated by an agreement between the Ministry of Education and Vocational Training and the Official Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Services and Navigation of Mallorca, will allow companies to receive up to €2,000 in aid per student and training for tutors.
Digitalisation, innovation, and entrepreneurship in VET
The Strategic Plan for Vocational Training of the Education System 2019-2022 of the Ministry of Education and Vocational Training foresees the incorporation of digitalisation, innovation and entrepreneurship in the vocational training system. The actions being developed are supervised by the new Centre for Training, Innovation and Development of Vocational Training of the Balearic Islands (CInFP-IB), which was launched in the academic year 2021-2022. The CInFP-IB assumes, among other functions, the collaboration between the centres and companies, the management of specialised technical training by professional fields for the teaching staff and also the coordination of the entrepreneurship classrooms and the ATECA classrooms (spaces for technology applied to the productive sectors).
In the 2022-2023 academic year there are already 19 entrepreneurship classrooms in operation and the creation of 12 more classrooms is planned, which will make a total of 31 classrooms available to vocational training students. These classrooms provide the necessary tools for setting up micro-enterprises with the aim of promoting self-employment as an alternative to paid employment. The students propose a business idea and find the necessary resources to start it up with the support of an advisory tutor and the necessary administrative tools. The users of these classrooms can be female students studying different training cycles, but they will also be open to former students during the 3 years following the end of their training cycle studies.
In the 2022-2023 academic year there will be a total of 15 classrooms for technology applied to the productive sector (ATECA), as 6 new ones will be added to the 9 created during the last two academic years. These spaces imitate work environments, incorporating resources specific to each productive sector by means of simulators and other technological elements. In these classrooms, students from different professional families can carry out tasks that bring them closer to the workplace and practice the use of innovative technologies, such as virtual reality, health simulators or 3D printing and scanning.
Next year, it is planned to train VET teachers in digitalisation applied to the productive sectors, as well as to continue promoting vocational training. In this regard, it should be added that in the 2021-2022 academic year, the important figure of 98 training courses organised in response to requests from all professional families was achieved. The participation of companies in this training is fundamental in order to bring the leading technological aspects closer to the teaching staff in charge of teaching the courses corresponding to the qualifications in each productive area. This year, placements in companies for VET teachers will be available throughout the academic year.
The creation of new training provision in face-to-face or intensive mode, as well as new distance and modular provision and the creation of new cycles or the transformation of existing bilingual medium and higher cycles in face-to-face mode is funded by the Ministry of Education and Vocational Training and by the European Union-NextGenerationEU within the framework of the Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan Facility.
On the other hand, the medium and higher education cycles in intensive mode (until now known as dual VET) are funded by the Ministry of Education and Vocational Training and co-financed by the European Social Fund in the Multiannual Financial Framework 2021-2027 (ESF Plus), while the LOE/LOMCE medium and higher level training cycles in the classroom mode are co-financed by the European Union and the Autonomous Community of the Balearic Islands within the framework of the European Social Fund Operational Programme Plus (ESF+) of the Balearic Islands 2021-2027.