As part of the QUAHVET project, Jesuitak Indautxu (a member of HETEL) successfully carried out a series of pilot guidance activities aimed at supporting students in their transition from upper secondary education to Higher VET (HVET). These initiatives, implemented between January and May 2025, involved students, teachers, families, counsellors, and external partners, and contributed to building a more inclusive, informed, and engaging guidance system.
Eight structured guidance actions were carried out:
- Information Talks were held in January, with 125 students and 6 teachers attending a session led by HETEL’s president, offering insights into HVET options.
- Pathways Lab, a specialized training programme for 16 teachers and 4 counsellors, equipped participants with skills and knowledge to better guide students towards vocational pathways.
- Family-Oriented Open Days allowed parents to directly explore the opportunities offered by HVET. These events fostered trust and improved engagement, with over 50 family members participating across multiple sessions.
- A planned visit to Cruces Hospital, although postponed, emphasized the importance of real-world learning environments in the guidance process.
- A social media campaign featuring videos from current and former students helped bring VET success stories to a wider audience.
- Coordination meetings between HVET and upper secondary staff ran throughout the year, enhancing collaboration and ensuring consistent guidance messages.
- An alumni network is under development to support future talks and mentoring activities.
These actions were not only informative but also strengthened collaboration between educational levels, promoted family and community engagement, and offered relatable role models to inspire students. As a result, Jesuitak Indautxu reports an improvement in student awareness and interest in HVET pathways.
Lessons learned from this pilot highlight the need for early planning, flexible cooperation with external partners, and continuous evaluation of impact—especially for outreach campaigns. Moving forward, HETEL aims to further integrate alumni, expand digital guidance channels, and develop tools to assess the effectiveness of its initiatives.
The pilot activities in Spain demonstrate how a comprehensive, community-based approach to guidance can support smoother transitions and promote the attractiveness of Higher VET.
