On 21 July 2026, Spain’s Ministry of Education, Vocational Training and Sports signed agreements with 35 companies and sector organisations to establish five new vocational education and training (VET) hubs. The initiative reinforces the government’s commitment to a modern, high-quality VET system that responds more closely to learners’ needs and developments in the economy.
Flexible, business‑driven VET via public–private partnerships
The hubs work as a permanent channel between businesses and training providers. Through ongoing dialogue, they help quickly identify and update the professional profiles needed by the productive economy, feed that demand into the VET system, modernise course offerings, drive innovation projects and strengthen collaboration with VET centres.
They also encourage business involvement in skills accreditation and in students' hands-on training through dual VET, which is being rolled out across the national VET system.
The five new hubs bring together 35 companies across the following sectors:
- animation, special effects and video games;
- hospitality;
- sustainable maritime mobility;
- hairdressing;
- road transport.
With this agreement, the government has now built new strategic alliances with leading companies across their respective fields within the VET system. These hubs join five others already established since 2023, involving more than 30 companies in the sectors of:
- green energy;
- rail;
- aerospace;
- audiovisual;
- technology.
Innovation and digital tools as a pillar of VET development
The rise of artificial intelligence is reshaping production systems, creating new opportunities alongside challenges related to employment and inequality. Against this backdrop, Spain's VET model is evolving into a more flexible system that is more closely connected to business and better able to adapt.
The signing event also highlighted the role of simulators and digital twins in VET. These technologies can reproduce complex machinery and workplace situations that are difficult or risky to practise in training centres, while complementing the work of teaching staff.
In 2026, the education ministry allocated EUR 36.7 million to introduce simulators and digital twins in VET centres across the country. Since 2018, it has invested more than EUR 8.293 billion in modernising VET for learners and workers.
This effort has been further strengthened by a state network of 75 VET centres of excellence and more than 40 national reference centres across the different professional fields. Together, these centres promote applied innovation, knowledge transfer and closer cooperation with companies.
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| Please cite this news item as: ReferNet Spain, & Cedefop (2026, August 31). Spain: new sectoral VET hubs strengthen business–education collaboration. National news on VET |