Vocational training in times of investment funds: between expansion and training quality

Vocational Training (VT) has established itself in recent years as a key avenue for employability in Spain.

Its growth has been driven by the growing demand for qualified professionals and increased public and private investment in the sector.

However, this boom has brought with it the entry of new players into the market: investment funds and large business groups.

This transformation raises questions about the sustainability of the model and the quality of the training provided. Are we facing a vocational training system that prioritizes student employability or a model that prioritizes economic profitability?

Traditional centers: experience, specialization and commitment to employment

The longest-established vocational training centers have been fundamental pillars of the Spanish employment training system. Their strength lies in their in-depth knowledge of the business community and their ability to adapt their programs to the real needs of the labor market.

Some of its main features are:

•  Collaboration with companies: Its partnerships with companies allow for the design of training programs aligned with the demands of the sector and facilitate the employment of graduates.
• Teachers with real experience: Not only are they teaching experts, but they have also worked in the sectors they teach, which provides practical and applicable learning.
• Individualized monitoring: They accompany the student throughout their training process and subsequent job search.
• Quality practical training: They have adequate infrastructure to guarantee teaching oriented towards the world of work.

These centers not only seek to enroll students, but also to ensure that each student acquires the skills necessary to successfully enter the workforce.

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Expansion of Vocational Training: New Players and Business Models

The rise of vocational training has attracted the attention of educational groups driven by private capital and investment funds. These new players have opted for rapid expansion, relying on digitalization strategies and hybrid teaching models.

Its main features include:

• Accelerated growth: Opening multiple locations in a short period of time to attract the maximum number of registrations.
• Digitization of learning: Strong commitment to online platforms and blended learning methodologies.
• Program standardization: Homogeneous training models, adapted to scalability.
• Mass marketingAggressive campaigns to attract students, prioritizing recruitment over personalization.

While these models facilitate access to training for a broader audience, they also raise questions about the quality of practical teaching and the real connection to the professional sector.

🔗 If you want to know what the main challenges and opportunities for FP are in our country, we recommend you read the 2023 Vocational Training Report on Social Challenges, published by the Observatory of Vocational Training in Spain.

Growth of Vocational Training in Spain: Key Facts

According to recent data from the Ministry of Education, Vocational Training and Sports:

• More than 250,000 new places FP have been funded since 2019, with the forecast of reaching 330,000 in the coming years.
• 149 new professional qualifications have been incorporated, raising the National Qualifications Catalogue to 775.
• 146 new locations have been added to the State Network of Digital Training Centers, reaching a total of 1,193.

This growth represents an opportunity to modernize vocational training, but also a challenge in terms of educational quality and the sustainability of the model.

🔗 A very simple way to observe the increase in the population of 25 to 64 year-olds with vocational training is by observing the growth charts from the recently published study by the CaixaBank Vocational Training Observatory.

How to choose a vocational training center? Keys to making the best decision

Both families and students should consider several factors when choosing a vocational training center.

Criteria for families:

• Employability rate of graduates.
• Prestige and history of the center.
• Infrastructure and practical equipment.
• Student-teacher ratio.
• Existence of agreements with companies.

Criteria for students:

• Employability and career opportunities.
• Quality of training content.
• Flexible hours and methodology.
• Access to technologies and real-world practical training.
• Geographic proximity and accessibility.

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Conclusion: FP with purpose vs. FP with capital

The vocational training model in Spain is at a crossroads. Private investment can bring innovation and digitalization, but it also carries the risk that economic profitability will take precedence over educational quality and student employability.

Traditional schools face a key challenge: continuing to invest in specialization, teaching experience, and connections to the professional sector to ensure a vocational training program that truly prepares professionals for the challenges of the labor market.

The future of vocational training will depend on its ability to balance growth and quality, ensuring that the sector's expansion doesn't compromise its essential function: being a real tool for professional transformation and employment.