The Orihuela City Council, through its Education and Employment Promotion departments and the Local Employment and Development Agency (AEDL), in collaboration with the Provincial Council of Alicante, has organized the fourth edition of the Employment and Training Fair. The event presented training and professional proposals from various companies, administrative entities, and educational centers, including the University of Alicante (UA) and the Miguel Hernández University (UMH). This year's main theme revolves around the use of new technologies, particularly artificial intelligence (AI), in professional and business development.
The opening ceremony was attended by the mayor, Pepe Vegara, accompanied by councilors Víctor Valverde (Employment Promotion) and Vicente Pina (Education), as well as Susana Miralles, director of CEFIRE Orihuela, and José Francisco Parra, dean of the Faculty of Social and Legal Sciences at UMH in Orihuela.
Education councilor Vicente Pina highlighted the importance of these gatherings for the future of the municipality's youth, emphasizing the significance of new technologies. He also announced that the El Palmeral Integrated Vocational Training Center has received an educational excellence award from the Ministry of Education.
Víctor Valverde, councilor for Employment Promotion, described the fair as a commitment by the local government to support young people, aiming to showcase the vocational training offerings at intermediate and higher levels, not only in Orihuela but also in the wider region. He recalled that the City Council allocates 70,000 euros annually for paid internships for vocational training students, encouraging young people to pursue these courses to find local job opportunities.
Susana Miralles, director of CEFIRE Orihuela, emphasized the fair's role in connecting students, companies, and training, and advocated for the continuous professional development of teachers.
From the UMH, dean José Francisco Parra congratulated the City Council for boosting the event, highlighting the program of talks on AI and new technologies that help address doubts regarding their impact on training and employment.
Mayor Pepe Vegara concluded the speeches by linking the fair to the government's commitment to vocational training, considering it key for the future. He pointed out the El Palmeral Public Integrated Vocational Training Center (CIPFP) as a benchmark in the Vega Baja and southern province, and noted that the fair serves as a source of motivation and opportunity for young people.
The program included conferences such as 'Digital Transformation and Education: How to Enhance Human Intelligence' by social psychologist Dolors Reig, 'Learning, Entrepreneurship, and Surviving Artificial Intelligence: A Guide for Young People Without Fear of the Future' by economist Andrés Pedreño, and 'AI, Social Media, and Digital Presence: What Companies Look for in an Employee' by telecommunications engineer Tony Gimeno.
Attendees were able to visit numerous stands from companies in various sectors and submit their resumes, reinforcing the connection between training and employment for the region's youth.
