The vocational training that everyone wants to study this year

PalmThe 2025-2026 vocational training course begins this Friday in the Balearic Islands with 20,991 students enrolled and 2,007 teachers in the classrooms. During the first phase of the admissions process, it was found that the most in-demand qualifications correspond to the professional areas of maritime and fishing, safety and environment, transport and vehicle maintenance, healthcare, physical and sports activities, administration and management, and computer science and communications. Furthermore, the most in-demand areas are personal image in Menorca and commerce and marketing in Ibiza. In Formentera, the offering remains flexible and adapted to the needs of the local productive sector.

The Regional Minister of Education and Universities, Antoni Vera, accompanied by the Director General of Vocational Training and Educational Planning, Maria Isabel Salas, presented the main new features of the course this Wednesday. Compared to last year, the vocational training system has added 1,000 more students and 168 more teachers. By island, the number of new students is 1,513 in Mallorca, 219 in Menorca, 253 in Ibiza, and 22 in Formentera.

The Regional Ministry has expanded its academic offerings with 36 new vocational training courses and two specialization courses, and for the first time, seven dual degrees are being launched, which can be completed in three academic years. This brings the total offering to 128 different vocational training courses and 160 professional certificates, spread across 23 professional categories.

New qualifications

The 36 new training courses are divided into 3 basic courses, 13 intermediate courses, and 20 advanced courses. Among the most notable new courses are the CFGM (General Training Course) in Safety, the CFGS (General Training Course) in Occupational Risk Prevention, the double intermediate degree in Clothing and Fashion with Footwear and Fashion Accessories, the CFGB (General Training Course) in Baking and Pastry Activities, and the CFGS (General Training Course) in Clinical Electromedicine. Both new specialization courses are in Application Development with Python and in Staff Coordination at Professional Meetings, Conferences, Fairs, Exhibitions, and Events.

Regarding the double degrees, the seven offered this year are:

• Double Intermediate Degree in Heat Production Installations with the Technician in Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Installations
• Double Advanced Degree in Management Assistance with Administration and Finance
• Double Advanced Degree in Administration and Finance with the degree in Management Assistance
• Double Intermediate Degree in Clothing and Fashion with Footwear and Fashion Accessories
• Double Intermediate Degree in Gardening and Floristry with Agroecological Production
• Double Advanced Degree in Aeromechanical Maintenance of Turbine-Engine Aircraft with that of Maintenance of Electronic and Avionic Systems of Aircraft

The system is distributed among 57 secondary schools (IES), 11 integrated vocational training centers (CIFP), 19 state-subsidized centers, 6 adult education centers (CEP), and 2 art schools.

Regarding the admissions process, 14,045 places have been offered for new access to vocational training courses:

• Mallorca: 11,168
• Menorca: 1,200
• Ibiza: 1,570
• Formentera: 107

Vocational training can be taken under the general or intensive program, and in person or online. The second admissions phase for the in-person program will end on October 17 for intermediate and advanced training courses and on October 31 for basic training. The online program is pending publication of the final admission lists on September 29.

To cope with the increase in student numbers and places, the Regional Ministry has announced new infrastructure and renovations. The most ambitious project is the transformation of the IES Politécnico de Palma into a CIFP (Public Secondary Education Centre), which will become a reference center. It will host 10 vocational training programs, with capacity for around 2,000 students and a range of 45 basic, intermediate, and advanced training courses, as well as three specialization courses, available in the morning and afternoon.

In addition, the renovation of the new CIFP Ciutadella is underway, scheduled for the 2026-2027 academic year. The Educational Infrastructure Plan provides for the construction of 12 new CIFP (Public Secondary Education Centres):

• 8 in Mallorca
• 3 in Menorca
• 1 in Ibiza

Notable investments include the CIFP es Castell (Menorca), the new CIFP in Alcudia, the planned CIFP Escuela Náutico-Fisheria (in the new port of Palma), the renovation of Ca Marines (Ibiza), and the expansion of the offering at the IES Son Ferriol (Mallorca).

This academic year also marks the beginning of the development of the new decree regulating vocational training, which affects both public and private schools. With its implementation, the Balearic Islands become the second autonomous community in Spain, after Aragon, to implement this single regulatory framework. The decree establishes a new structure based on grades A, B, C, D, and E, which forms an integrated and flexible system designed to adapt to the social, economic, and employment needs of the islands. Finally, the General Directorate of Vocational Training and Educational Planning has organized training sessions for vocational training teachers to ensure the smooth implementation of this academic year's new features.