Selected initiatives include collaborative robotics, smart manufacturing, digitization, drone management and more

(MissionNewswire) Ten Salesian vocational training initiatives have been listed among 141 national innovation projects highlighted by the Spanish Ministry of Education. Most of these initiatives stand out for their innovation in terms of collaborative robotics, smart manufacturing, digitization, 3D printing, drone management, artificial intelligence, Industry 4.0 and Internet of Things (IoT).

In total, all of the selected initiatives will have a budget of 23.8 million euros from Spain’s Chapter 20 of the Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan. More than 600 entities will be involved including vocational training centers, companies and other organizations related to vocational training across the country.

The projects require five participants including at least two vocational training centers located in different autonomous communities, and one to three companies, foundations, associations, or public or private entities.

Salesian Lora Tamayo Vocational Technical Training Center in Jerez de la Frontera and Salesian Juan Solé Vocational Technical Training Center in Cartagena will collaborate on the “Advancing in Dual Vocational Training and Industry 4.0″ project. Salesian Lora Tamayo Vocational Technical Training Center will also participate in the “From the Traditional Workshop to the Sustainable Workshop” project.

Salesian San José Vocational Technical Center in Salamanca will participate in a project entitled “Technical and Methodological Development for Industrial Practice 4.0 and IoT,” which will have a grant of 163,000 euros. Students will design an electronic board that other students can use to practice their knowledge of robotics or home automation at home.

A Salesian missionary explained the aim of the project, “The objective is to make it accessible to the general public, containing it at a cost of about 20 euros. It will not only be necessary to design the hardware, but also the application that can allow its use in professional environments and the website where the design of the board will be made public, so that it can be used freely.”

Other notable projects include “Intralogística 4.0” with participation from the Salesian technical vocational centers in Pamplona, Atocha, Zaragoza, and Cordoba, the “Intelligent Manufacturing with Robotics” project with participation from the Salesian St. Domenico Savio Technical Vocational Center in Madrid, and “Drones in Classrooms 4.0” with the participation of the Salesian San Ignacio Technical Vocational Center in Cadiz. Finally, the Salesian Technical Vocational Training Center in Carabanchel is participating in the “The Development of Hydrogen Storage Units” project.

Salesian centers in Spain operate close to 50 vocational training centers that employ 1,300 teachers and offer 17,000 students a chance to gain an education. In addition to these centers, the Pinardi Federation of Salesian Social Platforms and the Salesian Association of Technology and Innovation also offer vocational training courses. All Salesian vocational centers have the support of companies from a variety of business sectors to give students real-world work experience.

Close to 32 percent of young Spanish workers under the age of 25 are unemployed and a growing number of them can’t afford to buy enough food to live. Poor youth with few employable skills struggle the most to find and retain stable employment. Women in Spain face inequality in the workforce. They earn up to 14 percent less than men and represent only 34.5 percent of those listed as the highest earners in Spain.

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Sources:

ANS Photo (usage permissions and guidelines must be requested from ANS)

ANS – Spain – Country’s innovation counts on Salesian Vocational Training Centers

Salesian Technical and Vocational Centers

Salesian Missions – Spain

World Bank – Spain