The President of the Canary Islands, Fernando Clavijo, along with the regional Councillor for Education, Vocational Training, Physical Activity and Sports, Poli Suárez; the President of the Tenerife Cabildo, Rosa Dávila, and the Adeje Mayor José Miguel Rodríguez, officially opened he Adeje Integrated Centre for Vocational Training (CIFP) on Monday, 23rd September. The centre has been opened to meet a long-standing demand from the educational community in the south of Tenerife.
In the upcoming academic year, the CIFP will accommodate nearly four hundred students enrolled in basic-level qualifications in Bakery and Pastry Activities, Cooking and Catering, and IT and Communications. Intermediate-level qualifications will be offered in Food Product Marketing, Administrative Management, Microcomputer Systems and Networks, Catering Services, Cooking and Gastronomy, and Bakery, Pastry and Confectionery. At the advanced level, students can pursue qualifications in Multiplatform Application Development (with an option for a dual degree with Web Application Development), Kitchen Management, Tourist Accommodation Management, and Tourist Guide, Information, and Assistance. Additionally, there is a master's programme in Artificial Intelligence and Big Data.
It is expected that in future academic years, both the range of courses and the number of students (the centre's capacity is estimated to be between 700 and 1,000) will increase, as well as the number of staff, which currently stands at around 60, including teaching and non-teaching personnel.
For José Miguel Rodríguez Fraga, this infrastructure “is open at last, better late than never. This important vocational training centre opens its doors, and it is great news, not only for Adeje but for the entire region and the island. At a time when there is a high demand for workers in many sectors related to the subjects taught here, such as marketing, IT, and hospitality, this centre will undoubtedly help hundreds of young people each year find training opportunities. It will help them to find their professional future with the right preparation. Education and training are fundamental pillars for achieving a more integrated, supportive society with better coexistence, especially at such a complex social, economic, and employment moment. Today is a day for celebration for all of us.”
During his visit to the new centre, Clavijo reaffirmed that vocational training is one of his government’s major focuses. “It is a determined commitment to the south of the island, to vocational training and excellence,” which will “increase employability by aligning training offerings with the needs of the local economy, contributing to the economic development not only of Tenerife but of the whole Canary Islands,” Clavijo highlighted. The Canary Islands' president took the opportunity to thank all involved for their “effort” in ensuring that vocational training in the Canary Islands continues to progress with milestones such as this, and praised “the commitment and involvement of teachers in facing the challenge posed by the implementation of Dual Vocational Training this year.”
Suárez also acknowledged the dedication of the entire educational community in making the CIFP Adeje a reality, stating that the start of activity at this centre marks “a very important milestone at a key moment for vocational training in our islands.” He added that its opening would “provide a reliable educational response to students in the area, equipping them with the knowledge and skills needed to enter the job market,” which is essential for “transforming our archipelago both economically and socially.”
President of the Tenerife Cabildo Rosa Dávila expressed a similar view, describing the inauguration as “a monumental event for the south of Tenerife,” as it responds to “a long-standing demand from the educational community” and, as a “training benchmark for the entire island,” represents “a key commitment to the professional future of our young people in essential sectors,” enabling “the promotion of talent and economic development.”
Also present at the inauguration were the Vice President of the Government and Councillor for Economy, Industry, Commerce and the Self-Employed, Manuel Domínguez; the regional Councillor for Tourism and Employment, Jessica de León, who, along with representatives from the educational community and local and island businesses, toured the facilities. Additionally, a broad representation of the municipal government attended, including the Councillor for Education, Culture and Sports, Adolfo Alonso Ferrera, the Councillor for Presidency and Territorial Planning, Manuel Luis Méndez Martín, the Councillor for Tourism Promotion, Patricia Paulsen Fölling, the Councillor for Health, Esther Rivero Vargas, and the Councillor for Education, Coraima Afonso Navarro.
The Centre
The creation of the CIFP Adeje has involved an investment of eight million euros, split between the building work (€6.3 million) and equipment (€1.7 million). It aims to become a reference point, not only for the southern region of the island but for the entire archipelago, where more than 40,000 students have enrolled in vocational training courses this year.
According to provisional data, 2,994 of these students will pursue basic-level qualifications, 15,329 will take intermediate-level courses, and 21,856 will enrol in advanced-level programmes. This demonstrates the ongoing growth of qualifications that the Canary Islands Government considers very important for the islands.
The building has a surface area of about 5,000 square metres on a plot of 9,000. It is located on Calle Lisboa in the Playas de Fañabé development. The centre comprises four floors, three of which have direct access to the exterior and are arranged across different levels, in a terrace-like design.
The building is laid out in a linear fashion across its four levels, following a central circulation axis that connects all the spaces, with three staircases providing vertical communication.
The interior layout of the spaces has been designed to be as functional as possible, considering the identified needs and the nature of the various vocational training cycles offered. It includes administrative areas, classrooms, seminar rooms, meeting rooms, guidance or study areas, as well as common facilities.
Finally, the centre is energy-efficient, designed to adapt to high temperatures with more comfortable, accessible, safe, and sustainable spaces, tailored to the needs of the students.
