SPACE project receives the European Innovative Teaching Award 2025
We are proud to share that the Erasmus+ project SPACE – Seniors Perceive A Common Europe, in which INFODEF has participated as a partner, has received the European Innovative Teaching Award (EITA) 2025 in adult education. Since 2021, the European Commission has been using this award to highlight outstanding teaching practices developed within Erasmus+ projects. Every year, the award focuses on a current educational policy theme. In 2025, the spotlight was placed on education for democracy and civic engagement. The award was granted in Germany in the field of Adult Education and announced on 15 September by the National Agency at BIBB. For the SPACE project, coordinated by VHS Cham (Germany) with partners from Bulgaria, Spain, Sweden and Italy, this recognition is both a celebration and a confirmation of the project’s impact. What is SPACE about? SPACE empowers senior citizens to discover European values and identity through cultural heritage, shared traditions, and intercultural exchanges. It offered non-formal learning experiences ranging from digital activities to hands-on workshops such as baking traditional recipes or working with local crafts. The project encouraged seniors not only to reconnect with their own traditions but also to share them with peers across Europe. The SPACE project has produced a wide set of resources, freely available as Open Educational Resources (OERs): A Handbook with frameworks and best practices for adult educators An Empowerment Course with blended learning materials Over 100 digital exhibits created together with seniors Inspiring Digital Trails showcasing cultural heritage across countries You can explore all of them here: https://thespaceproject.eu/ For INFODEF, being part of a project like SPACE means contributing to a Europe that is closer, more inclusive, and more democratic. This award is a recognition not only of innovative teaching practices, but also of the transformative power of lifelong learning.
Signing ceremony at the High-Level Event of the European Alliance for Apprenticeships
On June 30 and July 1, INFODEF participated in the High-Level Event of the European Alliance for Apprenticeships (EAfA), held in Brussels under the theme “Apprenticeships for the Union of Skills and the Clean Industrial Deal.” This edition of the event was particularly meaningful, as it aligned with the launch of two major European Commission initiatives: the Union of Skills and the Clean Industrial Deal. Both place skills development and quality employment at the core of Europe’s green and digital transitions. During the Signing Ceremony, INFODEF officially joined the Alliance alongside other new members. The diplomas were presented by Roxana Mînzatu, Deputy Director-General of DG EMPL, in a warm and symbolic moment of commitment to advancing excellence in vocational education and training. The event provided a valuable platform to reflect on the transformative potential of apprenticeships — not only as a tool to boost employability but also to respond to the evolving needs of industry, especially in energy-intensive sectors. Discussions highlighted the importance of work-based learning in equipping learners with green skills and strengthening STEM pathways, as well as the role of apprenticeships in fostering a competitive, inclusive, and sustainable Europe. At INFODEF, we believe that quality apprenticeships are essential to building future-ready professionals. Our membership in EAfA strengthens our position within the European VET Excellence ecosystem and reinforces our commitment to promoting inclusive, innovative, and labour market-relevant training opportunities. Learn more about the European Alliance for Apprenticeships: https://employment-social-affairs.ec.europa.eu/policies-and-activities/skills-and-qualifications/working-together/european-alliance-apprenticeships/about-eafa_en
A Mine of Stories: rural innovation with a mining soul
In the heart of the Montaña Palentina —a mountainous area in northern Spain known for its natural beauty and mining heritage— the former Casa del Pueblo of Vallejo de Orbó hosted this Wednesday the official launch of A Mine of Stories, a national initiative aiming to open a new path for sustainable development in post-mining rural areas. The project represents a unique opportunity to rethink the future of the countryside through innovation, culture, and community engagement. Led by the Brañosera Town Council and Spain’s Ministry for the Ecological Transition and Demographic Challenge, A Mine of Stories will run for eight months and reach various mining communities in the region, including Brañosera, Valberzoso, Salcedillo, and Orbó. A key component of the project is its training programme, which includes eight intensive courses of at least 40 hours. These combine theoretical learning, technical visits, and practical workshops. They are aimed at tourist guides, heritage professionals, rural entrepreneurs, and anyone interested in developing new initiatives in their local area. Topics will range from industrial heritage interpretation to the design of tourism experiences, digital marketing, and the use of emerging technologies. INFODEF contributes to the delivery of this training programme, building on its background in education, heritage, and sustainable tourism. Its participation in A Mine of Stories highlights its commitment to educational innovation as a tool for community-based rural regeneration. In addition to the Brañosera Town Council, the initiative involves the collaboration of KOAN Consulting, Patrimonio Global, Radio Viajera, Geocyl, and Enredadas con el Patrimonio, as well as close ties with local associations such as ARPI and the Montaña Palentina Local Action Group. More information at https://www.unaminadehistorias.com Some news published about the event: https://cadenaser.com/castillayleon/2025/05/22/el-patrimonio-minero-se-convierte-en-motor-de-futuro-para-la-montana-palentina-radio-palencia/
GreenCCircle: bringing sustainability into cultural and creative industries
The green transition also belongs to culture. That’s the shared conviction behind GreenCCircle – Cooperative CCIs moving towards green business models, a new European project aimed at rethinking the environmental impact of Cultural and Creative Industries (CCIs) and supporting their shift towards more sustainable business practices. Co-funded by the Erasmus+ programme and running over 36 months, the project brings together a diverse team of partners from seven countries, including INFODEF. All of them believe that sustainability is not only a responsibility but also a real chance to innovate, create, and grow in a more conscious and resilient way. GreenCCircle will deliver hands-on tools: challenge-based learning paths, environmental self-assessments, green entrepreneurship methodologies, and creative experimentation spaces such as Living Labs. The goal is simple: to equip professionals, entrepreneurs, and organisations in the cultural sector with the right tools to make environmentally sound decisions—without giving up creativity or social impact. Within this project, INFODEF is contributing to the design of the emerging professional profile linked to this transformation, the development of the learning programme, and the creation of assessment tools and storytelling-based pedagogical approaches. GreenCCircle is an opportunity to highlight the potential of CCIs as drivers of change in our communities. A space to connect creativity, sustainability and the social economy.
Empowering VET Excellence in Castilla y León: INFODEF at the IV VET Forum
On April 8–9, INFODEF participated in the IV Vocational Education and Training Forum of Castilla y León, held at Valladolid Congress Centre, in Spain. The event brought together regional experts and European policy influencers to discuss the future of vocational training and the critical role of international cooperation in education. INFODEF’S director, Jesús Boyano, joined an engaging roundtable on mobility and internationalisation, sharing insights on how the entity’s involvement in excellence projects reinforces our commitment to modernizing vocational training. His participation underscored INFODEF’s dedication to ensuring that education meets labor market demands while embracing global best practices. The forum featured renowned speakers such as: Rocío Lucas Navas – Education Counselor from the Junta de Castilla y León. Joachim James Calleja – President of EfVET and VET consultant, who presented the new European capacity strategy for vocational training, highlighting emerging opportunities and challenges across EU member states. José Manuel Galvín – Senior Expert in Vocational Excellence at the European Training Foundation, who illuminated international cooperation models, particularly the coordination of Centres of Vocational Excellence (CoVEs) and skills ecosystems. Alicia Gabán – Head of Communications and Projects at EARLALL (European Association of Regional and Local Authorities for Lifelong Learning). Anastasia Pouliou – Expert in qualifications and credentials at CEDEFOP. Agustín Sigüenza Molina – Director General of FP and Special Regime in Castilla y León. Precisely within the framework of the 4th Vocational Education and Training Forum of Castilla y León, the signing ceremony of the HABITABLE Regional Alliance of Castilla y León took place, with the participation of INFODEF. This event marked a key step in continuing to strengthen a collaborative model around the habitat sector, and it was made possible thanks to the commitment of all partner organizations, as well as those that, through their presence, have actively chosen to join this process. In addition, the forum coincided with the Castilla y León VET Skills 2025 Competition. In this competition, more than 200 vocational students from the region showcased their talents in various categories, including hairdressing, masonry, mechatronics, automotive technology, pharmacy, window display, culinary arts, and renewable energies. Regional winners will now advance to the national competition that will take place in 2026. Notably, the construction competition zone featured the presence of the HABITABLE project – an innovative initiative addressing the shortage of skilled professionals in Europe’s housing sector by developing a Centre of Vocational Excellence in the Habitat area. Alongside other excellence projects like SEBCoVE, GreenVET4U, VET4chains, or GreenCCIrcle, our participation in these initiatives reaffirms INFODEF’s commitment to innovation and the sustainable evolution of vocational training. Fostering collaboration between educational institutions and industry partners is key to harnessing the benefits of vocational training in today’s digital and green economy. The Skills Competition is a great example of collaboration where companies from different sectors partner with the competition organizers to enable the development of the different tasks providing materials and tools, and also evaluating the participant students. This event is an important showcase for young people to closely learn about the professional development options offered by vocational training.
Strategic approach to support mobility of apprentices in the building sector
On April 9–10, the kick-off meeting of the European project MOBUILDING – A strategic approach to support mobility of apprentices in the building sector took place in Valladolid, Spain. Coordinated by INFODEF, the event brought together representatives from ten partner organizations across seven European countries for their first face-to-face meeting. The meeting started with a visit to the 4th VET Forum of Castilla y León and the regional Skills Competition, offering the consortium an opportunity to explore inspiring practices in Spanish vocational education and training. Afterwards, the group convened at the offices of EDUCACYL – Regional Ministry of Education of Castilla y León, where the work plan was presented, and the foundations were laid for the upcoming months. MOBUILDING addresses major challenges facing the building sector in Europe: attracting young talent, increasing the quality and availability of apprenticeship opportunities, and integrating innovative, sustainable practices aligned with the EU Green Deal. While cross-border mobility is crucial to achieving these goals, legal, cultural, and structural barriers still hinder apprentices’ participation. The project seeks to remove those barriers and improve the quality of mobility experiences through three main actions: Identifying challenges and drafting a European Action Plan for apprentice mobility in the building sector. Developing a digital platform to support sending and hosting organizations involved in mobility schemes. Enhancing outreach and engagement with apprentices and employers while ensuring a high-quality learning mobility experience. Through MOBUILDING, INFODEF strengthens its role in promoting inclusive, future-oriented, and international VET systems. Over the next 36 months, this project will help open new learning and employment pathways in a key sector for Europe’s green and digital transition.
Adherence to the United Nations Global Compact Spanish Network
We are proud to announce that INFODEF has officially joined the Spanish Network of the United Nations Global Compact, the world’s largest corporate sustainability initiative, bringing together more than 20,000 participants across over 160 countries. By joining this global movement, we reaffirm our commitment to the Ten Principles of the UN Global Compact, which serve as a foundation for our strategy and daily operations. This step further strengthens our alignment with the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which INFODEF already incorporates across its work in areas such as inclusive education, gender equality, sustainable innovation, international cooperation, and social justice. Being part of the UN Global Compact allows us to engage with a vibrant community of organizations working toward sustainability, while opening up new opportunities to share knowledge, collaborate, and increase the reach and effectiveness of our projects. At INFODEF, we believe that organizations play a vital role in building a fairer, more inclusive, and environmentally responsible future. That’s why we will continue to ensure that sustainability and the principles of the Global Compact remain central to everything we do. Learn more about the Global Compact and its principles: https://www.unglobalcompact.org/
INFODEF joins the World Family Organization
INFODEF has been accepted as a new member of the World Family Organization (WFO), an international entity with General Consultative Status at the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) since 1948. The WFO represents families worldwide, defends their interests, and acts with and for them vis-à-vis governments and the international community. The mission of the WFO is to promote means, opportunities, equal rights, and conditions for women and men to assume their roles and functions within the family and society, in conditions of freedom, equity, security, and human dignity. It also seeks to foster policies and actions that improve the living conditions of all families, respecting their diversity and cultures. INFODEF’s membership in this global network reinforces its commitment to social inclusion, human dignity, and sustainable development. This collaboration opens new opportunities to participate in international initiatives focused on key areas such as education, health, housing, and social well-being, contributing to a more just and sustainable future for families worldwide.
Participating in the EU Innovation Partners Networking Forum at the European Parliament
On November 25–26, 2024, INFODEF participated in the EU Innovation Partners Networking Forum, organized by the ACRID Network at the European Parliament in Brussels. This prestigious event gathered policymakers, innovators, and industry leaders to explore collaboration opportunities and funding pathways for advancing green, digital, and circular technologies across Europe. The forum was a valuable space to exchange ideas, explore partnerships, and better understand opportunities within the EU funding landscape. INFODEF contributed by sharing its experience in innovation and sustainability, working alongside partners from academia, industry, and public institutions. During the lunch debate on November 26, Jesús Boyano, INFODEF’s director, contributed to the session “The Role of EU Funding in Enhancing Human Capital Development for Innovation and Technology in EU Candidate Countries”. This debate highlighted the transformative impact of EU funding programs like Horizon Europe on developing skills and fostering innovation in regions such as the Western Balkans and Turkey. This participation marks another milestone in INFODEF’s ongoing efforts to harness the power of networks and collaboration to create a more sustainable and competitive Europe.
INFODEF at AR&PA 2024: innovation, culture, and regional engagement
INFODEF participated in the AR-PA Cultural Tourism Fair, held from November 15 to 17 in Valladolid, Spain, as a member of the AEICE Efficient Habitat Cluster, through its joint stand at the event. The stand hosted an engaging agenda organized by AEICE, featuring presentations, discussions, and networking opportunities that aligned with the fair’s central topics. The cluster program, themed around emerging heritage, territorial innovation, the demographic challenge, and sustainable habitat, brought together cultural and tourism professionals from across Spain. The fair agenda was enriched by family-friendly workshops and activities led by cultural institutions from Castilla y León, emphasizing the region’s cultural richness and its potential as a sustainable tourism destination. A highlight of the event was the visit of regional government president Alfonso Fernández Mañueco and other authorities during the inaugural day, underlining the significance of the fair in positioning Castilla y León as a hub for innovation in cultural tourism. INFODEF’s presence at AR-PA reflects our ongoing commitment to fostering innovation, sustainability, and international collaboration in the fields of culture and education.