ADEJE (TENERIFE), 23 Sep. (EUROPA PRESS) –
The President of the Canary Islands, Fernando Clavijo, alongside the Regional Councillor for Education, Vocational Training, Physical Activity and Sports, Poli Suárez; the President of the Cabildo of Tenerife, Rosa Dávila; and the Mayor of Adeje, José Miguel Rodríguez, formally opened the Integrated Vocational Training Centre (CIFP) Adeje this Monday, addressing a longstanding demand from the educational community in southern Tenerife.
While touring the new centre, Clavijo emphasised that Vocational Training is a primary focus of his administration.
“This is a vital commitment to the southern part of the island, to vocational training, and to excellence, which will boost employability by aligning the training opportunities with the needs of the workforce, thereby contributing to economic growth, not only of Tenerife but across the entire Canary Islands,” said Clavijo.
The Canarian president took the chance to express his gratitude to all parties involved for their “efforts” to “ensure that Canarian Vocational Training continues to progress with significant advancements such as this,” and also acknowledged “the dedication and engagement of the teaching staff in overcoming the challenges posed by the implementation of Dual FP this year.”
Suárez also spoke highly of the educational community, recognising their unwavering commitment to bringing CIFP Adeje to fruition. He described the initiation of operations at this centre as “a crucial milestone at a pivotal moment for vocational training in our islands” and stated that its opening will provide “a reliable training response for local students, enabling them to acquire the knowledge and skills necessary to enter the job market,” a factor deemed essential “for transforming our archipelago both economically and socially.”
Rosa Dávila echoed this sentiment, characterising the inauguration as “a significant milestone for southern Tenerife,” as it meets “a historical request from the educational community.” She noted that its development as “a training reference for the entire island” represents “a critical commitment to the professional futures of our youth in essential sectors,” fostering “the nurturing of talent and economic progress.”
Rodríguez expressed his “delight” at the centre’s operational commencement, especially during “a time of high demand for trained personnel across many of the courses offered.” He anticipates that the new centre “will deliver training for hundreds of students with the qualifications they need,” at a moment characterised by “great social, economic, and employment challenges.”
AN EDUCATIONAL REFERENCE
The establishment of CIFP Adeje has involved an investment of eight million euros—6.3 million for construction and 1.7 million for equipment. The aim is for it to become a benchmark not just for the southern region of the island, but for the entire archipelago, where over 40,000 students have enrolled in vocational training courses this year, according to a report from the Government.
Based on preliminary data, 2,994 students will pursue basic degrees, 15,329 will undertake intermediate degrees, and 21,856 will enrol in advanced degrees, indicating a significant surge in enrolments for programmes deemed strategic by the Canary Islands Government, according to the Executive.
The Vice President of the Government and Minister of Economy, Industry, Trade and Self-Employment, Manuel Domínguez; the Minister of Tourism and Employment of the regional government, Jessica de León; and the President of the Cabildo de Tenerife, Rosa Dávila, were also present at the opening ceremony. They toured the facilities alongside representatives from the educational community and local businesses.
This new educational establishment will provide courses in five professional areas: Hospitality and Tourism, Information Technology and Communication, Food Industries, Administration and Management, and Commerce and Marketing, while facilitating enrolment at El Galeón and Adeje secondary schools.
In the current academic year, CIFP will accommodate around four hundred students pursuing basic degrees in Bakery and Pastry Activities, Cooking and Catering, and Information Technology and Communications; intermediate degrees in Food Product Marketing, Administrative Management, Microcomputer Systems and Networks, Restaurant Services, Cooking and Gastronomy, Bakery, Pastry and Confectionery; as well as higher degrees in Development of Multiplatform Applications (with an option for a double degree with Development of Web Applications), Kitchen Management, Management of Tourist Accommodations, and Guidance, Information, and Tourist Assistance, alongside a master’s degree in Artificial Intelligence and Big Data.
It is anticipated that in subsequent academic years, both the range of courses and the number of students—currently estimated to be between 700 and 1,000—will increase, and the workforce will grow as well, with approximately sixty staff in this initial phase, including both teaching and non-teaching personnel.
Previously, Tenerife had five such centres in the metropolitan area, thus it is hoped that CIFP Adeje will serve as a benchmark owing to its extensive teaching options, catering to a population that includes the municipalities of Santiago del Teide, Guía de Isora, Adeje, Arona, Vilaflor de Chasna, San Miguel, and Granadilla de Abona.
STAGED CONSTRUCTION
Spanning approximately 5,000 square metres on a 9,000-square-metre site, the centre is situated on Lisboa Street in the Playas de Fañabé development.
It features four floors, three of which provide direct external access and have been designed in a staggered format across multiple levels, resembling terraces.
Additionally, the construction extends linearly across each of its four levels, following a circulation axis that links all spaces, with three staircases facilitating vertical communication.
The Department of Education has prioritised a functional internal organisation of the spaces, considering identified needs and the nature of the various training cycles delivered.
Thus, the centre includes an administrative area, classrooms, seminar rooms, meeting and study spaces, as well as shared services.
Specifically, it is an energy-efficient establishment designed to withstand high-temperature episodes, featuring more accommodating, accessible, secure, and sustainable spaces tailored to student needs.
Six in total
The CIFP Adeje joins the network of public centres in the Canary Islands along with five new centres that are also opening this year: the Secondary Education Institute (IES) Agáldar in Gran Canaria; the Infant and Primary Education Centre (CEIP) El Castillo in Fuerteventura; and three new special education centres (CEE) in Santa Lucía de Tirajana (Gran Canaria) and in Icod de los Vinos and Adeje itself (Tenerife).
These facilities, alongside 35 Enclave classrooms for students with special educational needs (NEAE), represent a total investment exceeding 27 million euros, encompassing construction costs of 23 million euros and equipment costs of four million euros.
