EARLALL Welcomes the Spanish Region Castilla y León as a New Member
18/11/2024
EARLALL is pleased to officially welcome the Spanish region of Castilla y León as the newest member of its network. The membership of Castilla y León was approved at the Annual General Meeting held on November 13, 2024, in Barcelona, marking a significant addition to the EARLALL community as it strengthens its focus on collaborative, region-based approaches to vocational education and training (VET) across Europe.
Castilla y León is committed to advancing vocational education to meet the region’s workforce and economic needs. The region has strategically aligned its VET programs with priority industry sectors, including advanced manufacturing, energy, agriculture, and digital technology. Emphasizing hands-on, industry-relevant training, Castilla y León works closely with local businesses to design curricula that equip students with essential skills and real-world experience, ultimately enhancing job placement and career readiness for graduates.
Recognizing the importance of lifelong learning, Castilla y León also provides extensive reskilling and upskilling programs that serve both young people entering the workforce and adults transitioning into new career paths. Digital skills training is a core component of this approach, as the region seeks to build a future-ready workforce. Furthermore, Castilla y León has pioneered innovative dual-training models that integrate classroom learning with on-the-job apprenticeships, enabling students to gain both theoretical knowledge and practical skills concurrently. These initiatives form part of the region’s strategy to create a resilient, adaptable workforce capable of thriving in a dynamic labor market.
Agustín Francisco Sigüenza Molina, Director General of Vocational Training and Special Regime at the Regional Ministry of Education, Junta de Castilla y León, shared his enthusiasm for joining EARLALL, highlighting the importance of collaboration in European lifelong learning policy:
“For the regional educational authority of Castilla y León, EARLALL represents an excellent opportunity to share knowledge about lifelong learning policies with governments from other regions in the European context.
Moving forward together by sharing knowledge and experience on lifelong learning policies is essential to achieving a strong and united Europe in which educational systems can respond to the needs of citizens.
The green and digital transitions of economic and social systems and the demographic changes that the regions of Europe must face require consensual and shared education and training policies.
We hope that EARLALL will provide us with the space for interaction that we need to design and implement effective and efficient lifelong learning policies in Castilla y León.”
EARLALL warmly welcomes Castilla y León and looks forward to the region’s valuable contributions. Together, EARLALL and its members are committed to shaping a future in which education and training systems empower citizens to meet the challenges and seize the opportunities of Europe’s rapidly evolving labor landscape.
