“Proud“. This is how Julián Fariña Rodríguez (born in Arafo in 1962), director of the Integrated Centre of Vocational Training (CIFP) Virgen de la Candelaria, feels upon receiving the Viera Clavijo 2023 Award from the Ministry of Education of the Canary Islands Government. He shares this recognition with the vocational training ‘temple’ in Tenerife, located at number 144 on the main road in El Rosario, in the capital’s district of Ofra. He arrived there as a teacher in 1989 – having been the top candidate in the 1987 competition, he began at the Güímar Vocational Training Institute – and has since held roles such as Department Head, Head of Studies, Vice Principal, and Director for the past ten years, first at the IES (2014-2022) and now from June 1, 2022, until today at the CIFP. This regional award, for which he was already a finalist the previous year, comes at a crucial moment for the courses that he promotes and defends every day: the year preceding the implementation of the new phase representing the dual model closely linked with the Island’s business fabric.
Labour Market
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“Come and train in vocational training, regardless of your age, because it guarantees employment”. This is the message that he directs, especially towards the young people of Tenerife, a person with such a brilliant and extensive curriculum that summarising it in this report would be impossible. Julián Fariña has already led the transformation of the centre from an IES to a CIFP, marking a turning point for the educational community. He now believes that with the so-called German system, “new horizons are opening up once again, with a different phase, also in management.”
Reflecting on his time as a teacher of Machining, Machine Maintenance, and Welding, he recounts the “years of hard work” in teaching, of which he is, he repeats, “very proud” and “happy” to receive recognition. He believes that the award is an incentive to continue working and to maintain a commitment to Vocational Training.
Career Path
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Julián Fariña is recognised for his constant efforts to enhance educational quality, promoting innovation, internationalisation, and opening up the Virgen de Candelaria to society and the business world. His dedication has helped establish it as a benchmark for Vocational Training in Tenerife. He was a pioneer in the initial implementation of the dual system, presenting the first projects in the 2015-16 academic year. The IES Virgen de la Candelaria, under Fariña’s leadership, received the Viera y Clavijo award in 2020.
Opportunity
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Fariña believes that “we have an opportunity from the next academic year with the dual modality.” He reflects: “In these years, there has been a great transformation of the centre that has changed for the better. I believe we provide society, in general, with great professionals from the various sectors represented at the Virgen de Candelaria.” He adds: “We are pioneering in the science we teach and offer great opportunities to the business community and students – 1,250 this academic year in 80 groups – in terms of training for the job market.” He values “the great professionals in this faculty – 130 teachers – who are constantly training in new technologies.”
Supply and Demand
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The director acknowledges that “we do not meet the high demand for professionals, especially in the industrial sector. Not very appealing courses then have a wide demand for employment.” He emphasises that “both the public administration and educational institutions need to do something to promote these studies.” He concludes: “We are obliged to provide qualified professionals because we cannot afford a bad reputation, especially in the tourism sector, which encompasses the rest of the economic sectors.” In summary, “We need something that attracts students to training because there have never been so many opportunities and facilities for those seeking qualification.” The director of the Virgen de Candelaria makes an appeal: “Come, regardless of your age, to train because we will adapt the teaching or schedules to your needs and provide you with the tools to access the job market.”
Recent Example
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Just a few days ago, representatives from industrial companies in Canarias belonging to the Provincial Federation of Metal and New Technologies (Femete) visited the Virgen de Candelaria to meet with teachers and students. The delegation was led by the Director-General of Industry at the Government of Canarias, Ana Zurita. The aim: to promote the value of specialised training in trades linked to industries with high employment demand.
Personal Life
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Julián was born and resides in Arafo. As a son of the village of music, he continues the tradition. In his case, his instrument is the clarinet, although he admits that he practices it less and less. Married to Lupe, he has two sons, Óscar and Miguel. He considers himself a “family-oriented” person and, apart from his hometown, he has another personal refuge in Valle Gran Rey, in the southwest of La Gomera. He recalls the forest fires in Arafo last summer as “a moment of
10 awards for teachers and schools
The Viera y Clavijo 2023 distinctions, the highest honour granted by the Ministry of Education in non-university education, will be presented on 24th May at the Casa de la Cultura in Los Realejos. The ceremony will honour ten candidates, seven teachers and three educational institutions. Alongside Julián Fariña, the only active Tenerife director, the recipients include the director of IES Cairasco de Figueroa in Gran Canaria, Cristina Blanco; retired technician Pedro Rodríguez; María Isabel Pérez, a teacher at IES Bañaderos-Cipriano Acosta (Gran Canaria); Pascual Molina, posthumously, from IES Doctor Antonio Gonzalez (Tenerife); as well as retirees Manuel García and Rafael Curbelo from Lanzarote. The awarded schools are CEIP Puntagorda (La Palma) and Gran Canaria, and IES La Laboral de La Laguna (Tenerife). | J.D.M.
