Aragón presented its Intensive Dual Vocational Training model in Brussels on October 14, 2026, a system in which between 35% and 50% of training takes place at companies and which achieves an employment placement rate above 80%. The region showcased the initiative during the European Week of Regions and Cities as a response to the need for qualified professionals.
Aragón showcases its Intensive Dual Vocational Training model in Brussels to link education and employment
The director general for Planning, Educational Centers and Vocational Training, Luis Mallada, took part in the “Raising the bar – attracting talent by creating attraction” session, held as part of EURegionsWeek. The event also brought together Denmark’s Zealand region and the Swedish city of Gothenburg to share approaches for attracting, onboarding and retaining professionals.
The session highlighted three initiatives: Aragón’s Intensive Dual Vocational Training model, Zealand’s Recruit & Retain program for health-care professionals, and Gothenburg’s New Recruits project, focused on facilitating the arrival and retention of new workers in social services.
Mallada advocated for vocational training tied to the real needs of the productive economy and able to bring students closer to employment from the outset of their educational path. The strategy presented seeks to attract, develop and retain talent amid shortages of specialized workers and the need to strengthen territorial cohesion.
Aragón’s Intensive Dual Vocational Training combines companies, educational institutions and shared mentoring
Ester Torres Abizanda, a technical education adviser at the Vocational Training Service, outlined how Aragón’s model operates. The initiative structures the relationship between educational institutions and companies so that a significant part of learning takes place in real professional settings.
Between 35% and 50% of the training program is completed at companies. This approach allows students to gain practical experience early in their training and establish direct contact with the sectors in which they may pursue their careers.
Companies also contribute to the design of training programs, participating in the definition of skills, learning activities and content tailored to the needs of each sector. The system includes dual mentoring: one supervisor at the educational institution and another at the company coordinate student monitoring throughout the process.
Employment placement exceeds 80% and shortens hiring times
Aragón’s model records an employment placement rate above 80%. It also helps students remain with the companies where they complete their training and contributes to reducing hiring times in occupations facing difficulties filling vacancies.
Aragón’s participation in Brussels provided an opportunity to explain the system to other European administrations and compare it with initiatives developed in other territories. The shared challenge is to align people’s skills with labor-market needs and improve the availability of qualified professionals.
