The 2026–27 academic year consolidates the transformation of Vocational Education and Training (VET) in Spain

The 2026–27 academic year consolidates the transformation of Vocational Education and Training (VET) in Spain.  

Vocational Education and Training (VET) continues to gain importance within the Spanish education system. The latest available data according to the Ministry of Education, Vocational Training and Sports, corresponding to the 2025–26 academic year, show that the number of VET students has reached a new historic high: 1,211,062 people, 2.5% more than the previous academic year. This represents 30,092 more students than in 2024–25.

These figures come at a time of profound transformation in VET and allow us to anticipate some of the trends that will also shape the 2026–27 academic year: an increasingly broad training offer, stronger connections with companies, the growth of specialisation courses and the consolidation of a VET model that is more closely linked to the world of work.

But this growth also raises a fundamental question: how can we ensure that these new opportunities reach all students, and especially those who face greater social vulnerability?

At Fundación Exit, we believe this is one of the major challenges. It is not enough to have more places or more qualifications available: we need every young person to be able to understand their options, find an appropriate pathway, stay on it and connect it with a future career offering real opportunities.

VET continues to grow

The evolution of VET is clear. According to Ministry data for the 2025–26 academic year, growth is taking place across the three main levels: the number of students in Basic VET increased by 2.1%, Intermediate VET by 2.7% and Higher VET by 2.3%. Enrolment in specialisation courses is also growing strongly, approaching 10,000 students and increasing by 17.7% compared with the previous year.

This growth is driven, among other factors, by increased demand for training pathways linked to employment and by the need for qualified professionals in sectors undergoing significant transformation.

But growth also brings new challenges: how can we ensure that this growth is inclusive? How can we ensure that those who face greater difficulties in staying in the education system can also benefit from these opportunities?

Dual VET is becoming consolidated

One of the major transformations in recent years has been the structural incorporation of work-based learning. The new VET model includes training in companies and structures this experience through general and intensive dual VET programmes. The aim is to bring what is learned in the classroom closer to what happens in the workplace, foster the development of professional skills in real-life contexts and facilitate the transition from education to employment.

Employment data published by the Ministry demonstrate the potential of this connection. Among people who graduated in 2020–21, the employment affiliation rate one year after graduation was 40.1% for Intermediate Dual VET and 63.2% for Higher Dual VET. Three years later, these figures reached 64.6% and 72.1%, respectively.

But Dual VET also raises a fundamental question: are we ensuring that all students can access a quality training experience in a company?

For those with less family support, fewer professional role models or more complex educational backgrounds, accessing and remaining in a work-based learning experience can be more difficult. This is why guidance and support are not complementary elements of Dual VET; they are essential to ensuring that this transformation is genuinely inclusive.

More specialisation to respond to labour market needs

Another trend that will continue to shape VET is the expansion of training opportunities and specialisation pathways. Specialisation courses are a clear example of this evolution. According to the latest available data, almost 10,000 people undertook this type of training during the 2025–26 academic year, 17.7% more than the previous year.

The direction is clear: adapting training to sectors undergoing technological, digital and sustainable transformation. This diversification is positive because it expands students’ options. But it also makes guidance more necessary than ever.

As the number of options increases, having the information and support needed to make decisions becomes even more important.

More options do not always mean more opportunities

For a young person who understands the education system, has professional role models and has a support network, choosing between different programmes can be a relatively straightforward process. But for those who have experienced academic difficulties, are unfamiliar with the career opportunities associated with different pathways or lack professional role models, making a decision can be much more complex.

As the number of options increases, guidance and support become more important than ever. It is not only about accessing VET, but also about having the tools and support needed to choose the right pathway, stay on it, complete their studies and take the next step towards employment or a new stage of education.

At Fundación Exit, we work to bring guidance closer to educational and employment realities and support young people experiencing social vulnerability so that they can discover their interests, understand their possibilities and build their own educational and career pathway.

Our 2025–2029 Strategic Plan sets out precisely this objective: to complete the guidance cycle by supporting young people from discovering their vocation through to their first experience in the world of work, while strengthening the connection between the education system and the business community.

Companies: an essential part of the change

The transformation of VET cannot rely solely on educational institutions. Companies have a fundamental role to play. How? By offering training placements, taking part in guidance activities, providing professional role models and creating first work experiences.

At Fundación Exit, we believe that companies must be part of the response to early school leaving and the disconnect between education and the labour market. Collaboration between companies, educational institutions and social organisations can be decisive in making VET a genuine gateway into the labour market.

What can we expect from the 2026–27 academic year?

If we had to summarise the main trends for the new academic year, we would highlight five:

• A broader and more diverse training offer. New programmes and specialisations aim to respond to transformations in sectors such as digitalisation, electronics, sustainable mobility and the energy transition.
• The consolidation of Dual VET. Company-based training is becoming a central element of the VET model.
• A stronger connection between education and employment. VET continues to strengthen its role as a pathway into the professional profiles demanded by the labour market.
• A greater need for guidance. The growing number of pathways and options makes it essential to support young people in their decision-making.
• The challenge of equity. The growth of VET will only be good news if it also reaches those facing greater educational, social and economic difficulties.

Vocational Education and Training has a huge opportunity ahead. It can help respond to companies’ needs, improve professional qualifications and offer thousands of young people a pathway towards independence and employment. But for this to happen, we must look beyond enrolment figures. Quality VET is also about providing guidance, support and connections.

The 2026–27 academic year brings new opportunities. The collective challenge is to ensure that these opportunities are accessible and sustainable for all students. At Fundación Exit, we want no young person to have their future determined by their starting point. That is why we will continue working to open pathways, connect opportunities and support young people as they build their own futures. Because one opportunity can change everything.