The 2nd edition of the VET Knowledge Transfer Awards of the Association of Vocational Training Centres FPEmpresa and Esprinet Group announces the 3 winning projects of the challenge. IES Javier García Téllez (Cáceres), IES Federica Montseny (Valencia) and IES Lázaro Cárdenas (Madrid) have won the first three prizes, valued at 12,000 euros, which will go to the centres, teachers and students.
A total of 78 teams have participated in this challenge, whose main objective is focused on developing STEAM skills, as well as raising awareness and achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). In this way, the participants have recreated problem scenarios and devised a technological solution that contributes to achieving at least one of the SDGs and also promotes gender equality, which corresponds to SDG 5.
In addition, more than 450 people from the Region of Murcia, Andalusia, Aragon, Castilla-La Mancha, Castilla y León, the Basque Country, the Canary Islands, Cantabria, Valencia, Extremadura, Madrid, Catalonia, the Balearic Islands and the Principality of Asturias have joined this competition with the aim of developing among VET students key skills and abilities to train competitive professionals, as well as learning technical skills.
Evaluation Criteria
With regard to the evaluation criteria of the 78 participants, the jury took into account the capacity for critical thinking to question different approaches in the search for the best solution; the improvement of technical skills in areas related to the participating professional families and, finally, the innovative spirit, proactivity and teamwork as essential values to help in the constant improvement of products and services of the companies.
Among the winning projects, the following professional families stand out: Electricity and Electronics, Chemistry, Environmental Health and IT and Communications. However, other professional families also participated in the competition, such as Safety and Environment, Transport and Vehicle Maintenance (TMV), Energy and Water, Agriculture, Mechanical Manufacturing and Installation and Maintenance.
In addition, another feature that has proved to be fundamental in this second edition is the 47 female teachers who have been coordinators of the projects presented. In this way, the aim of making female talent visible in those professional families where its presence is testimonial is achieved.
Winners of the 2nd edition
IES Javier García Téllez (Secondary School) in Cáceres has won the first prize with its project “LlezzHands”, led by the teacher Marta Barroso Rodríguez together with the students of the Higher Degree in Electrotechnical and Automated Systems. This initiative focuses on a village in Cambodia where more than half of the population are women and minors. However, one of the main problems of the population is landmines, which cause deaths and amputations. Therefore, the project aims to develop mobile prostheses for all inhabitants of Cambodia. It will be made using 3D printers and organic materials, such as PLA, which comes from potato and corn starch.
The second prize went to IES Federica Montseny in Valencia with its project “GoodalTech”, a proposal led by teacher Elisa Adell Sales and the 1st year Chemistry and Environmental Health group. The aim of this project is to improve the labour inclusion of women in the STEAM area.
Finally, the IES Lázaro Cárdenas Secondary School in Madrid came in third place with its project “Zeri (Seed)”, led by teacher Carolina Sobrón San Martín and the 2nd year students of the Higher Degree in Multiplatform Applications Development. This idea focuses on “planting” a seed of equality and prosperity in villages in underdeveloped countries and, therefore, eliminating the gender gap in access to technology.
To see all the projects in this edition, you can do so by clicking here.