TKNIKA commences its activities as a new UNEVOC Centre in the Basque Country (Spain)

One of the newest additions to the UNEVOC Network, the Basque Centre for Reasearch and Applied Innovation in VET (TKNIKA) of Basque Country, Spain organized an inauguration of the UNEVOC Centre on the 29th May 2017. TKNIKA invited the Mr. Shyamal Majumdar - Head of UNESCO-UNEVOC at the inauguration of the UNEVOC Centre, organized in collaboration with the Deputy Ministry of Vocational Education and Training, Ministry of Education of the Basque Government.

Established by the Department of Education of the Basque Government in 2005, TKNIKA operates with the mandate to promote innovation, creativity and entrepreneurship in VET centres of the Basque Country (Spain).Through networking and direct involvement by the Basque Vocational Training teaching staff, the centre develops innovative projects in the areas of technology, education and management.

L to R: Mr. Iñaki Mujika - Executive Director TKNIKA, Mr. Shyamal Majumdar - Head of UNESCO-UNEVOC, Hon. Mr. Jorge Arevalo -Director of Planification and Organization, Vice-Ministry of VET of Basque Country (Spain), Mr. Ricardo Lamadrid -Director of the Technology and Advanced Training of the Vice-Ministry of VET of Basque Country.

The inauguration was accompanied by a workshop on the theme of 'The role of Vocational Education and Training System for sustainable economic growth', coordinated by the VET Deputy Ministry of the Ministry of Education of the Basque Government. Representatives of the Basque Government’s Foreign Office, the VET Deputy Ministry under the Ministry of Education of Basque Country (Spain), international leaders of Basque Business Development Agency (SPRI), representatives of Basque Employers Association (CONFEBASC) and Basque Institute of Competitiveness ORKESTRA, representatives of TKNIKA and Basque VET centers participated in the event.

The Honorable Director of Planification and Organization of the Vice-Ministry of VET of the Basque Country, Mr. Nicolás Sagarzazu discussed the trends in, and strategies for improving the VET system in the Basque Country. Speaking at the occasion, Mr. Majumdar - Head of UNESCO-UNEVOC International Centre, highlighted the case for transforming TVET for sustainable development and welcomed the induction of TKNIKA in the UNEVOC Network.