VET gains weight among foreign students, who grow 10 times faster than Spaniards

Vocational training programs in Spain, known as Formación Profesional (FP), have gained increasing popularity among foreign students, whose numbers have grown ten times faster than their Spanish counterparts over the past five years. According to recent data, the number of international students enrolled in FP has surged by 64.7% between the academic years 21/22 and 25/26, rising from 85,453 to 140,800. This represents a 12% increase just in the last year alone, compared to a mere 1.2% growth rate among native Spanish students. Despite still making up only 11% of the total student population in FP, the trend indicates a growing preference for these programs among non-Spanish residents. The rise in international enrollment is particularly notable in specific regions and sectors. Data from the 24/25 academic year shows that the largest share of foreign students comes from Latin America and South America, accounting for 38.4% of all international participants, followed by European countries with 28.4% and African nations with 22.9%. The appeal of FP lies largely in its ability to provide quicker access to the job market, according to Accem, an organization specializing in supporting migrants and refugees. These vocational programs offer a direct route into employment, which is especially valuable for individuals who may face delays due to the process of having their foreign qualifications recognized in Spain. Accem highlights that many immigrants arrive in Spain with educational credentials obtained abroad, but the time required to have them officially recognized can delay their entry into the workforce. As a result, there has been a noticeable increase in demand for FP courses related to administration and office work, tourism and hospitality, and maintenance and repair. This aligns with findings from a study published in January 2025 by the Observatorio de la Formación Profesional of CaixaBank Dualiza and Orkestra. The report emphasizes that FP plays a crucial role in integrating foreign populations by enhancing their skills and employability while facilitating access to the formal labor market and allowing recognition of prior knowledge. The study also notes that foreign students often start at lower levels of education and face greater challenges in terms of educational vulnerability. FP serves as a pathway to overcome these barriers and improve their standing in the Spanish labor market. Meanwhile, the expansion of private FP centers has further influenced this dynamic. Over the past five years, the proportion of students attending private institutions has increased from 31.1% to 34.1%, reflecting a significant shift in the sector’s landscape. Public FP centers have also seen growth, with student numbers rising by 16.4% since the 20/21 academic year, reaching 789,314 students. However, the growth in private centers has been more pronounced, with a 34.5% increase in enrollment, taking the total number of students from 306,322 to 412,100. This rapid expansion of private FP is evident in different regions, with Madrid leading the charge. In the past five years, the presence of private FP centers in Madrid has risen by 6.44 percentage points, currently representing 52.2% of the FP system in the region, making it the only autonomous community where private institutions outnumber public ones. The increasing dominance of private FP centers raises questions about the broader implications for accessibility and quality of education. While the growth of these institutions offers more options for students, including those from diverse backgrounds, it also underscores the evolving nature of Spain's vocational training landscape. With international students continuing to show a marked preference for FP programs, the sector appears poised for further transformation as both public and private providers adapt to meet the changing demands of a more globally connected student body.