Actors made up as cats that resemble celebrities theriansFormula 1 cars, chocolate fountains, music booths where you can create your own song, and agents of all kinds in eye-catching uniforms. Entering Hall 2 of the Education Fair and not being entertained for a while is almost impossible, and perhaps all these attractions explain—in part—the change the educational guidance fair has undergone to reach its current state: this year, for the first time, there are more exhibitors of vocational training (FP).

Sustainability has become an increasingly sought-after skill in the job market. This is according to a study conducted by the Open University of Catalonia (UOC) in collaboration with PIMEC, which reveals how, in recent years, the demand for professionals in Catalonia linked to green professions has steadily increased. According to the report, based on 1.7 million job postings published between 2018 and 2023, green occupations have increased by 17% and now represent 7.5% of total job vacancies.

Finishing high school and wanting to continue studying at university without having to leave home, combining work with a degree, or returning to the classroom after a few years to advance professionally. These are some of the most common situations among students who value online learning as an alternative for continuing their education. In Catalonia, there are around thirty degrees that can be completed entirely online. Most are part of the catalog of the Open University of Catalonia (UOC), with options ranging from fields such as economics and communication to computer science, psychology, and social sciences.

Vocational training continues to gain popularity among students in Catalonia. Last September, the allocation of places reached a record high: 81,479 students secured a place in a vocational training program. In total, more than 96,000 people participated in the pre-registration process, a figure that confirms the sustained growth of these studies in recent years. This milestone "places Catalonia at the forefront of Spanish autonomous communities with the strongest presence in vocational education," highlighted the Minister of Education and Vocational Training, Esther Niubó, at the beginning of the academic year.

Many high school seniors have been anxiously eyeing the calendar for weeks. The end of the school year is approaching, and with it, one of the most important decisions of their academic career: choosing what to study next. The same is true for many vocational students, who are considering whether to continue their studies, specialize, or enter the job market directly.

In a classroom at the Catalonia College of Music (ESMUC), a student tunes her violin before class begins. Meanwhile, at the Catalonia College of Dramatic Art (ESAD), a group of students rehearses a scene. A few meters away, young dancers from the Catalonia College of Dance (CSD) practice a choreography in front of a mirror. At the Catalonia College of Conservation and Restoration of Cultural Heritage (ESCRBCC), there's also activity: students examine an old painting with a magnifying glass before working on it. At the Catalonia College of Design and Fine Arts (ESDAPC), creativity flows everywhere.

Imagine a kitchen utensil designed to make the most of leftover vegetables, a new food product created from bread scraps, or a redesigned school cafeteria that generates less waste and offers healthier menus. All these ideas have something in common: they are examples of food design, a discipline that applies design thinking to the world of food.

To make the Catalan university system more inclusive and accessible to everyone. With this principle in mind, the country's universities have been promoting initiatives for years to facilitate access to higher education and ensure that more and more students can pursue a degree. Among the mechanisms to make this possible are a wide variety of tools: from scholarship and financial aid programs to support services for students with disabilities or specific needs. In parallel, new, more flexible learning models have also been implemented, allowing students to combine their studies with other personal or professional commitments.

For decades, universities have emphasized one concept: specialization. Their classrooms have produced economists, political scientists, philosophers—defined profiles trained in disciplines with clear boundaries. However, it is increasingly difficult to address major contemporary debates from a single perspective. A multitude of challenges arise: how to regulate artificial intelligence without stifling innovation, how to guarantee economic growth without exacerbating inequalities, how to govern society in a context of polarization and climate crisis… The degree in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics is based on this observation: complexity is not addressed by fragmenting knowledge, but by doing.

They go in groups and loaded with tote bags, pens, and t-shirts with countless logos from universities, vocational training centers, and various schools. Once the raid to collect all the possible gifts is over, it's time to focus on what's important, and this is when the large class groups branch out into smaller groups of threes or pairs depending on what they "maybe" want to study. It's the only way to stay organized that the thousands of teenagers who visit the Salón de la Enseñanza find, seeking answers to their academic future among the more than 250 exhibitors—12% more than last year—and the 200 orientation activities offered.

The University of Lleida (UdL), a prestigious public university dating back to 1297, combines a long academic tradition with a young and dynamic structure committed to quality training and research, as well as internationalization. It is currently ranked fourth in Spain for teaching and seventh in research according to U-Ranking 2024. Its strong suit lies in the study of agri-food and forestry, and as a world leader in food technology.

On Mondays, one subject from the Economics degree and another from Advertising and Public Relations. On Tuesdays, one from the Political Science track. On Wednesdays and Thursdays, two more from the Humanities, and, to finish the week, one from Journalism. For ten years now, students starting university have not had to decide, from the outset, which specific degree they want to pursue. The formula is called open degree and allows students who want to enter university to postpone for almost a year one of the most distressing issues: choosing which degree they will pursue in the following years. This option is currently only offered in Catalonia by Pompeu Fabra University (UPF), but it receives more applications each year. Last year, out of 50 applicants, only 30 were able to enroll, the maximum number of applicants. This translates into a fairly high average entrance grade, which in recent years has fluctuated between 11.2 and 12.3 out of 14. But how exactly does an open degree work?

Studying to design online games and applications of all kinds; to manufacture products that combine mechanics, computing, electronics, and control; and to be able to pilot a commercial airplane. These are three of the fields of study with the best job prospects in Catalonia. This is illustrated by the latest report on job placement data published by the Agency for the Quality of the University System of Catalonia (AQU Catalunya), which once again crowns engineering as the branch of knowledge that guarantees a more stable career.

The Baccalaureate (Cacillerato) is a two-year program that provides a general academic education and prepares students for university entrance or other educational or professional paths. It offers various modalities such as Science, Technology, Humanities, and Social Sciences, which allow students to focus on specific areas of interest. Intermediate Vocational Training Courses (Ciclos Formativos de Grado Medio, CFGM) are two-year vocational training programs that offer practical preparation in a specific professional field, such as administration, IT, electronics, and automotive, among others. These programs include work-based training periods that allow students to gain practical experience in the sector.

In Barcelona, LCI Barcelona is one of the focal points of the creative multiverse it has created over time. Today, it offers four advanced training degrees, seven university degrees, and 22 master's degrees in the areas of fashion, graphic design, interior design, product design, animation, video games, and photography. Representatives of LCI Barcelona emphasize that this global dimension is precisely one of the school's greatest added values: "Being part of the LCI Education network allows our students to combine knowledge, experience, and industry contacts around the world, which translates into a more comprehensive education and a greater ability to adapt to an increasingly globalized sector."

If you have professional interests in the world of the performing arts and want to know what and where to study, the Institut del Teatre is the leading school in Catalonia for training in this field. Founded in 1913 by the Barcelona Provincial Council, this center is a benchmark in teaching, creation, research, and preservation of performing arts heritage and is committed to pedagogical and artistic innovation.

Irina Barranco

Student of the degree in Geography and Global Change (UB), started in the 2023/2024 academic year

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News for the 2025/2026 academic year

Degree in International Hotel Management (CETT-UB)

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There are not many communication faculties around the world that offer students the opportunity to learn, in such depth, the narrative technique that Truman Capote and his legendary novel made world famous. In cold bloodLiterary journalism is a style characterized by using the tools of literary fiction to explain real events. Beyond Capote, literary journalism has had other leading ambassadors, such as Hunter S. Thompson, Joan Didion, and Tom Wolfe. In Catalonia, it has resonated with writers such as Montserrat Roig. Over the last decade, the Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB) has become the only university in the world to offer an elective course in literary journalism in journalism degrees, master's degrees, and postgraduate programs.

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