With this planning, the Ministry of Education intends reach approximately 52.000 vocational training students in the next academic year, which would mean adding around 4.500 new places. The update to the vocational training map, which had not been renewed for more than three decades, aims for a more modern, flexible system of vocational training that is better connected to the economic and social realities of the Canary Islands.
Distribution of the 184 new cycles by island
The distribution of these new cycles is as follows: 62 in Gran Canaria and 61 in Tenerifewhich reinforce their role as key training centers. These are complemented by 18 in Fuerteventura, 16 in La Palma, 10 in La Gomera, 10 in Lanzarote y 7 in El HierroThis allows vocational training to gain a presence throughout the archipelago and reduces the need for travel between islands.
This new programming is not limited to increasing numbers: seeks to improve territorial distribution and bring specialized studies closer to areas where they did not previously exist. The so-called "insularization" of vocational training aims to ensure that any student, wherever they live, has access to an offer suited to their needs without having to leave their island.
In parallel with the increase in cycles, the department has promoted improvements in educational infrastructure, with reforms in existing centers and the construction of new Integrated Vocational Training Centers (CIFP) in El Hierro and La Gomera, thus reinforcing the network of resources to support this growth.
New face-to-face studies and strategic sectors
The 184 new cycles include new face-to-face qualifications linked to key sectors for the economy and employment in the Canary Islands. The idea is to align vocational training with real productive activities in the territory, from the primary sector to advanced services.
Among the new in-person events, the following stand out in Gran Canaria: the cycles of Livestock and Healthcare and Chemical Plant; in Tenerife they are joining Applied Environmental Health y Personal and Corporate Image ConsultingThese teachings complement the commitment to professional families of Chemistry, Sociocultural and Community Services, and Safety and Environment, which are gaining importance in the new educational landscape.
Specific itineraries are also activated on the other islands: Emergencies and Civil Protection in El Hierro; Marketing of Food Products in Fuerteventura; Staff coordination for professional meetings, congresses, fairs, exhibitions and events in La Gomera; Oral Hygiene in Lanzarote, and Pharmacy and Parapharmacy in La PalmaIn this way, each island incorporates studies that fit with its productive fabric and its qualification needs.
Planning also reinforces the Adapted Vocational Training, with itineraries such as Auxiliary Activities in AgricultureThese programs are aimed at students with specific educational support needs. They seek to combine inclusion, practical training, and real opportunities for entering the job market.
Overall, the expanded offering is designed to to support strategic sectors of the Canary Islands economyFrom agriculture and livestock farming to tourism, logistics, health services or the chemical and graphic industries, generating professional profiles tailored to current demands.
Boost for dual degrees: two degrees in three years
One of the pillars of the new stage of vocational training in the Canary Islands is the deployment of dual degree itinerariesThese programs allow students to complete two related courses and obtain two official qualifications within three years. This approach aims to improve employability and offer more versatile and well-rounded profiles.
The proposal incorporates eight new cycle combinations in very diverse fields. In the administrative and management area, the option of taking courses together is offered. Administration and Finance with Management Assistance, and Sales and Commercial Space Management with Marketing and Advertising, itineraries focused on trade, business management and commercial promotion.
In the field of logistics and foreign trade, the combination of Transportation and Logistics with International Tradedesigned for an increasingly globalized market. In the technological field, the pairing is consolidated Web Application Development with Cross-Platform Application Development, which trains professionals prepared to program and maintain solutions in different environments.
The tourism and restaurant sector is also strengthened by double itineraries such as Kitchen Management with Restaurant Services Management o Tourist Guidance, Information and Assistance with Travel Agencies and Event ManagementIn the industrial and maintenance sectors, the following are added: Automotive Electromechanics with Machinery Maintenance y Design and Management of Graphic Production with Production in Graphic Arts Industries.
These dual degrees are structured, in many cases, through the intensive dual modality From the second year onwards, a significant portion of the trainingābetween 700 and 1.000 hours out of a total of approximately 2.000ātakes place directly within a company. This approach not only provides students with their first work experience earlier, but also includes... work-study contracts with tax incentives for participating companies.
Virtual learning and dual vocational training: a more flexible and connected vocational training program
The virtual modality is consolidating as another of the major lines of development for vocational training in the Canary IslandsIn an insular and fragmented territory, online training is presented as a key tool so that place of residence does not limit access to these studies.
Within this framework, new online courses are being incorporated, including the one on Personal and Corporate Image Consultingand they get going second virtual courses with specializations such as Web Application Development, Cross-Platform Application Development, Executive Assistance, and Marketing and Advertising. These options are especially geared towards people who already have a previous degree and wish to complete a dual degree or broaden their professional profile.
The experience with some cycles transferred from the face-to-face to the virtual modality, such as the one of Promotion of Gender EqualityThis has shown that demand can even multiply when the travel barrier is removed. Examples like this have encouraged the regional education authority to continue expanding its online offerings, both to reach less populated islands and to revive courses that weren't filling up in person.
At the same time, dual vocational trainingāin its general and intensive variantsāis consolidating as a priority route to link training and employmentThe model proposes that students spend part of their learning time in companies, with the possibility that, in the intensive modality, there is a training contract and the benefits in contributions for the company are maintained even for the three years after the completion of the cycle by the student.
The administration emphasizes that this strategy not only aims to combat the high rate of youth unemployment which is registered in the Canary Islands, but also to support the productive sector, helping companies grow in size and competitiveness. The number of companies collaborating with vocational training has increased, according to the data released, from around 2.500 at the beginning of the legislature to around 5.000 currently.
New website for vocational training in the Canary Islands: unified information for students, companies and teachers
Along with the academic innovations, the department has promoted a new website specifically for vocational training in the Canary IslandsIt is designed as a meeting point for all stakeholders involved in these educational programs. The tool aims to integrate training opportunities, relationships with companies, and resources for teachers into a single digital space.
The portal is structured into three main sections. The first is geared towards businessThe website will feature a professional accreditation system, an interactive map to locate centers and qualifications, access to job boards, and channels for participating in dual vocational training. This section aims to help companies find candidates whose profiles match their needs.
The second group heads towards students and those seeking guidanceIt contains all the vocational training (FP) courses, organized by professional field, with information on the activities specific to each program, the centers where they are offered, the number of places available in real time, and the online registration process. It features a design optimized for mobile devices, making it accessible to younger users.
The third section is intended for vocational training teachersThis platform will provide a centralized location for current regulations, the necessary documentation for managing dual vocational training, and quick access to internal educational administration tools. The aim is to simplify daily operations and streamline coordination between schools, businesses, and the administration.
With this platform, the Canary Islands positions itself as one of the first regions to have a digital ecosystem that links students, businesses and teachers around vocational training, reinforcing the idea of āāa connected and constantly updated training system.
A new vocational training map for a changing labor market
This entire package of measures falls within the Map of Vocational Training in the Canary Islands, the main planning instrument in this area. Its development has taken into account labor market reports, sectoral analyses, and dialogue with island councils, municipalities, educational centers, and social partners.
Updating the map means leaving behind a model that It hadn't been renovated for over 30 years. And, according to the department itself, it had clearly become outdated. The new proposal focuses on an island-specific, digitized offering more closely linked to the productive sectors, with special attention to the non-capital islands and areas with fewer resources.
At the same time, initiatives such as the Implementation of Basic Vocational Training in all secondary schools with at least three ESO groupsWith the aim of reducing early school leaving, an indicator in which the Canary Islands registers figures higher than the national average, vocational training is presented as a realistic and attractive path for students to continue their education with a clear professional focus.
The increase in places, the opening of new cycles, the promotion of dual training and the expansion of the virtual modality are complemented by the hiring new teachers and improving infrastructure, creating a scenario in which vocational training is gaining importance within the Canary Islands education system.
The addition of 184 new vocational training programs in the Canary Islands, along with the expansion of online learning, the creation of dual qualifications, and the launch of a dedicated website for these courses, paints a picture in which vocational training takes center stage in addressing the archipelago's employment and skills challenges. With a broader, more diversified offering distributed across all the islands, the system aims to enable more young people and adults to access vocational training. train, specialize and find job opportunities without having to leave your environment.
