1. "Teaching strategies for the use of ICT in vocational training in the wood, furniture and cork sector"

Ref. FPT25/2019/1/46

Dates: 1/07/2019-05/07/2019

Format: classroom

Taught by: ACADEMIA CAMPUS

2. "Research and Innovation in compound/composites and new materials for the furniture sector".

Ref. FPT25/2019/2/46

Dates: 1/07/2019-05/07/2019

Format: classroom

Taught by: AIDIMME 

3. "Generating innovative and smart furniture projects".

Ref. FPT25/2019/3/46

Dates: 8/07/2019-12/07/2019

Format: classroom

Taught by: AIDIMME 

4. "Finishing operations and maintenance of innovative materials for exterior timber elements".

Ref. FPT25/2019/4/46

Dates:15/07/2019-19/07/2019

Format: classroom

Taught by: FEVAMA 

5. "CNC machining operations on "eurowindows".

Ref. FPT25/2019/5/46

Dates:22/07/2019-26/07/2019

Format: classroom

Taught by: FEVAMA

1. "Online Training Resource Manager" (SSCE15EXP)

Ref. FCN34/2019/1/46.

Dates: 06/05/2019-29/07/2019

Experimental specialism in hybrid format. 

1. Creation of an interactive 3D digital catalogue of woodworking machinery in the wood / furniture sector.

2. Design of a web-based information management and promotion tool.

An instrument designed to raise awareness and provide information regarding the wood, furniture and cork sector/group of professionals. This specialised portal is found on https://cambium.gva.es/ 

3. Development of digital content.

Certificate of professional competence in "Installation and Furnishing Projects"

Available on the LABORA Formació Virtual Campus and as part of the centre's programme.

1. Digitalisation and automation of woodworking processes Lab 4.0 Basic level.

Dates: From 19-07-2021 to 23-07-2021

Format: classroom

Taught by: AIDIMME 

2. 3D rendering course for installation and furnishing design.

Dates: From 12-07-2021 to 16-07-2021

Format: classroom

Taught by: AIDIMME

1. Certificate of Professional Competence "Manufacture of Cork Objects" (MAMA0309).

Dates: From 28-12-2021 to 18-03-2022

Format: classroom

Taught by: Daniel Hernández.

Aimed at unemployed women from the rural areas of the municipalities bordering the Sierra de Espadán Natural Park.

1. MOOC Courses "Digital Teaching of Vocational Training" (SSCE31).

The objective was to acquire the knowledge, skills and attitudes necessary for vocational training teachers to be able to design, adapt and deliver training actions in e-learning or hybrid learning formats. The teachers were familiarised with different virtual training environments and a wide range of digital tools for information management, content creation, communication and evaluation, also fostering social and collaborative learning dynamics.

Format: This MOOC course had innovative vocational training tutors and was delivered in e-learning mode, 100 % online.

Methodology: The course was made up of 6 training modules, which include videos and video tutorials, individual and group activities, forums, blogs, digital events, etc. following a social and collaborative learning methodology. Each participating teacher designed activities applicable in the classroom.

Two editions:

First edition: 26/11/2021 to 31/01/2022

Second edition: 21/03/2022 to 20/06/2022

Taught by: Ingenia - Ingeniería e Integración Avanzadas S.A. (now Babel Group).

2. Training and employment breakfast : " 4th Microcluster. Wood and Furniture".

Sector-wide strategy and innovation breakfast. Held on 26 November 2021 from 9 to 10 h. in a hybrid format. The topic chosen was "The Challenge of Digitalisation in the Wood and Furniture Industries". Our productive sector was analysed at first hand through direct contact with companies, trade unions, vocational training teachers and students in the group of professionals in the WFC sector, as well as promoting knowledge of the wood transformation field.

3. Sectoral technical seminar "Building with Wood. Sustainable Employment and Training" for representatives of the wood and furniture sector and technological and educational centres.

On 26 November from 9 to 13:15 h. this seminar was held in a hybrid format, classroom and online, promoted by the National Reference Centre for Wood and Cork Transformation and Installation. This technical seminar was organised by the Valencian Wood Federation (FEVAMA).

The presentations dealt with the following topics:

Building with wood in a sustainable manner.

Energy saving in construction and the role of wood in this.

Training professionals to make more sustainable wooden spaces a reality.

It can be viewed in full on:

https://youtu.be/IgWh08P0Bak

4. Communication and marketing strategies.

Actions were taken to provide continuity and improve efforts to strengthen communications and raise awareness of this CRN, as well as to publicise the innovation we offer in vocational training to the group of professionals in the WFC, wood, furniture and cork sector. These included the following:

Management of social media and the sector-specific website cambium.gva.es in the field of vocational training in our sector as well as statistical activity reports: publication of information and news on the CRN's digital media, recording of promotional videos regarding our activities and design of publicity material.

Production of a corporate video in three languages, Valencian, Spanish and English.

5. Participation in international initiatives.

The CRN for Wood and Cork Transformation and Installation participated as a stakeholder in the Erasmus+ K2 Project "SMARTRAIN - Bridging the Gap Between Core Competences in Vocational Training Curricula and Co-creation in the Furniture Industry". One of the main objectives of the project, which was coordinated by AIDIMME, was for vocational training students to acquire skills and abilities related to three key fields of knowledge for them and for companies, namely CIRCULAR ECONOMICS, 3D PRINTING and SMART FURNITURE.

6. Collaboration with INCUAL

We collaborated in the revision and updating of certificates of professional competence in those activities in which we are required by the National Qualifications Institute.

7. Collaboration on the procedure for the evaluation and accreditation of professional competences (PEAC).

At the request of the Conselleria for Education and the Subdirectorate General of Labour Training, the CRN was responsible for promoting and coordinating the procedures linked to our productive sector.

8. Collaboration with other national reference centres.

The aim of this collaboration was to promote communication and collaboration with other centres with links in their sectors of reference in the field of vocational training and employability, and in cross-curricular subjects. To this end, virtual meetings were scheduled with related centres, with the directors and technical staff in order to study possible joint activities.

9. Establishment of collaborative links between productive sector organisations.

The aim was to energise and modernise the labour market through the collaboration of organisations linked to the educational and employment vocational training system, vocational training centres, employers' and trade union organisations and companies. To this end, collaboration was established with the State Foundation for Employment Training (FUNDAE), and its local unit in the Comunitat Valenciana, with the aim of advancing various lines of work to meet the demand for qualified personnel in the business sector.

1. Congress "Innovation, New Technologies and Sustainability in the Wood and Furniture Sector". 

Cycle of conferences

Itinerary 1: "Design". On 4 and 6 October 2022. 8 h.

- Furniture design, innovation and inclusion (4 h.).

- Construction and decoration with wood. A digital and environmental challenge (4 h.).

Itinerary 2: "Manufacture". On 18 and 20 October 2022. 8 h.

- Collaborative robots in the furniture sector (4 h.).

- Digitalisation and automation in carpentry (2 h.).

- The 5S Methodology. Quality, safety and maintenance in the wood sector (2 h.).

Format: Online

Organised by: AIDIMME

The objectives were:

- Update attendees' professional knowledge in specialised areas or competences that have an impact on their teaching work.

Train training staff, both theoretically and practically, in areas related to new technologies, new trends in training or involving some innovation, and in priority areas for promoting employment.

- Supplement existing theoretical and practical training in new occupations or specialisations.

- Provide experience in real work environments.

- Meet teachers' aspirations for promotion and professional development, enabling them to better perform their profession. 

2. MOOC Courses "Digital Teaching of Vocational Training" (SSCE31).

An online course, tutored, collaborative, free and open to VT teachers from all the autonomous communities. Specially designed for vocational training teachers interested in updating their digital competence and familiarising themselves with new active methodologies, collaborative tools and a variety of digital teaching resources that can be applied in hybrid and e-learning environments.

Duration: 60 hours

Format: This MOOC course had innovative vocational training tutors and was delivered in e-learning mode, 100% online.

Methodology: The course was made up of 6 training modules, which include videos and video tutorials, individual and group activities, forums, blogs, digital events, etc. following a social and collaborative learning methodology. Each participating teacher designed activities applicable to the classroom.

Two editions:

First edition: 28/11/2022 to 20/02/2023

Second edition: 13/03/2023 to 16/06/2023

Taught by: Ingenia - Ingeniería e Integración Avanzadas S.A. (now Babel Group).

1. Certificate of Professional Competence "Manufacture of Cork Stoppers" (MAMA0109).

Dates: From 19-12-2022 to 08-05-2023. 360 h.

Format: classroom

Taught by: Daniel Hernández.

Non-professional work experience: Espadán Corks.

Aimed at unemployed women from the rural areas of the municipalities bordering the Sierra de Espadán Natural Park.

With the aim of promoting vocational training for unemployed women in rural areas and improving their employability with activities to support entrepreneurship, this 360-hour certificate of professional competence was offered to 10 students, 8 of whom completed the 320 hours of theory and 40 hours of unpaid work experience placement in a company.

The training was supplemented with field visits, visits to professionals, associations and interpretation centres in the sector, as well as talks and conferences that helped the students to gain first-hand knowledge of the industrial fabric related to cork stoppers, to evaluate the material and to consolidate all the knowledge imparted in the theoretical classes.

In addition to the course, an activity with a duration of 20 hours was carried out to support and accompany the enrolled students in finding employment and promoting entrepreneurship, it was provided by the company RH En Positiu, an expert in these areas.

The certificate was presented in a classroom in the Glorieta Building in Segorbe (Castellón), on loan from the town council.

You can see a summary here:

https://youtu.be/vHrj7QeVPHo

1. Communication and marketing strategies.

  a. Management of the centre's social media and the sector-specific website cambium.gva.es in the field of vocational training; publication of information and news on the CRN's digital media; recording of promotional videos regarding our activities and design of publicity material.

      Twitter: @CRNMaderaCorcho

      Facebook: @CRNMaderaCorcho

      Linkedin: Centro Referencia Nacional Madera y Corcho

  b. Newsletter: management of users to provide information on the wood and cork sector.

2. Erasmus+ KA122-VET European mobility project for teaching and technical staff. 

Project title: VET-WOOD - VOCATIONAL TRAINING IN WOODWORKING

Period of execution: 01/10/2023 - 31/03/2024.

First mobility: 17 to 22 April 2023. 

Video summary: https://youtu.be/GZRHm3iLeg4

Second mobility: 13 to 17 November 2023.

At the beginning of 2022, we applied to take part in an Erasmus+ Vocational Training mobility project for learning through observation, which was awarded to our school through the Spanish Service for the Internationalisation of Education (SEPIE).

The application to take part in this European project was in line with the implementation of objective 6 of the 2022 Work Plan "Participate in international programmes, projects and initiatives", which aimed to increase the presence of this CRN in international projects and activities within the wood, furniture and cork and vocational training sector.

The main objective of the project was to offer teachers a placement in vocational training centres in other countries in order to update both their methodological and professional competences. The aim was to implement the competences acquired in the CRN classrooms and to improve the quality of the vocational training provided to students, in order to improve their competitiveness in the labour market.

The project was carried out in collaboration with the Fondazione ENAIP Lombardia, at its facilities in Cantù. It is a network of vocational schools in Northern Italy with extensive experience in Erasmus KA1 projects (mobility of students in Higher Education and VT) over several years. This partner was chosen on the basis of the principles of quality in vocational training and its strong links with companies in the sector. 

3. Design and implementation of a virtual reality simulator for the certificate of professional competence "Assembly and Installation of Wooden Constructions" and pilot testing.

Contracted organisation: Innoarea Projects

The simulator allows students studying for this certificate or other related studies to realistically experience the tasks of assembling and installing wooden structures; tasks which, due to their special characteristics, are difficult to reproduce in the workshop, both because of their dimensions and because of the characteristics regarding work at height.

It is open and free of charge, for educational uses and without a licence fee, so it will be available for use mainly in vocational training centres. The only requirement for its use is the purchase of virtual reality headsets by the centre.

The product's user interface allows learning situation scenarios to be selected with examples of timber construction projects involving setting out parameters, checking measurements and construction methods: jointing and anchoring systems, construction elements, types of fittings, hand tools, portable machine tools, safety standards, applied to:

- Construction of light and heavy frame houses.

- Construction of log or wooden block house walls.

- Construction using large structural timber and timber derivative products.

Once inside a virtual scenario, it is possible to interact with the objects, in practice or exam mode, using the devices that form part of a virtual reality set: headset and Touch controllers.

1. 4th Wood, Carpentry and Furniture Sector Microcluster. Innovation breakfasts.

Sector-wide strategy and innovation breakfast. Held on 8 November 2022 from 9 to 10 h. in hybrid format at the facilities of the Catarroja CIPFP, the chosen topic was "Public Administration Tools for Vocational Training at the Service of Companies". It was a well-attended meeting with organisations from the sector, business associations, companies, trade unions and vocational training centres.

Organiser: FEVAMA

It can be viewed on:

https://youtu.be/8ws7KofptHc

2. Sector technical seminar "Installation and Furnishing. Specialist Employment and Training" for representatives of the wood and furniture sector and technological and educational centres.

On 29 November from 9 to 13:30 h. the seminar was held in hybrid classroom and online format.

Organiser: FEVAMA, Valencian Wood Federation

Venue: Vicent Martínez Hall at AIDIMME.

The aim was to identify the needs of fitters, installers and planners in companies working in installation and furnishing, to reflect on the updating of the knowledge of the teaching staff in this professional area, to discover the new digital furnishing technologies (VR and AR), as well as the qualifications required and to boost connections between these professionals.

It can be viewed on:

https://www.youtube.com/live/RMZB0kd05yA?feature=share

3. Energising the labour market to adapt it to new needs.

The following activities were carried out in order to meet this objective:

1. Visits to companies in the sector, which received an information pack on the activities carried out in this CRN.

2. Online presentations on our activities related to innovation and experimentation on new materials to improve and modernise the sector.

3. Information on the CRN's digital media for career guidance and job searching.

To facilitate the collection of information from the companies contacted, we developed a form, based on a registration form, for our visits to companies and/or organisations. We collaborated in this task with the Guidance and Job Search Department. 

4. Report analysing the training needs of the wood, furniture and cork production sector.

Contracted organisation: AIDIMME

The main objective of the report, which involved the collaboration of the CRN for production, Carpentry and Furniture in Encinas Reales (Córdoba), was to create and implement a system for collecting information to identify the professional skills required at the national level by the wood, cork, carpentry and furniture industry. Basically, the aim was to provide high-quality information that would make it possible to adapt the training offered to make it more efficient and more in line with the needs of the sector.

All this information is essential in order to adapt the sectoral training offered and thus obtain highly qualified professionals who meet the needs of the sector and who contribute to generating high-quality employment and improving companies' productivity and competitiveness.

First phase:

- Characterisation of the industry and mapping the agents in the sector.

- Identification of the qualification needs detected for the agents.

- Identification of the training needs of the teaching staff, especially in terms of technologies not yet implemented in the sector, but which, although still in their infancy, will be implemented in the near future in companies and may give rise to new qualifications.

- Qualification needs indicators.

Second phase:

- Exploratory research with actors in the sector.

- In-depth interviews of about 30 minutes with companies and institutions (educational centres, business associations and organisations and teaching staff).

Third phase:

- Conclusions and final report. 

5. National map of the wood, furniture and cork production sector.

Contracted organisation: AIDIMME

The sector map is an essential instrument for understanding the industry by sector. This map focuses on the three areas of the wood, furniture and cork production sector. If offers detailed and complete information about the reality of the economic sector to which it refers, it is the quantitative and qualitative representation of the main data and factors that define and delimit a productive sector, providing transparency and relevant information and identifying the sector's key elements.

The map, which was drawn up with the collaboration of the CRN for production, Carpentry and Furniture in Encinas Reales (Córdoba), includes the following:

• Active companies: 10,332
• Technology parks: 29
• Business associations or organisations: 111
• Educational or vocational training institutions:148
• Trade fairs and events: 30

A national database was created focusing on the professional areas and the group of professionals in the wood, furniture and cork sectors and their distribution by province and autonomous community. The companies, technology parks, associations or business organisations are those associated with the National Classification of Economic Activities (CNAE) linked to the sector. This database includes: name, postal address, telephone number, and web address, email address where available and geographic location.

The database resulting from this sectoral map has been integrated, by means of an interactive digital map, in the respective websites of both CRNs and, in the future, in the aforementioned National Wood, Furniture and Cork Observatory, which allows the information obtained to be filtered and viewed.

Finally, the data was analysed and a statistical report was produced. 

6. Meeting with other national reference centres and participation in working groups.

1. Participation in the "Methodological Innovation" Working Group.

The CRN for Wood and Cork Transformation and Installation collaborated in the "Methodological Innovation" Working Group led by the Observation, Innovation and Research Department of the CRN for Commercial Logistics and Transport Management in Zaragoza.

Several face-to-face and online meetings were held to propose actions and deliverables to help vocational training teachers become familiar with active methodologies and their application in the classroom.

This activity was framed within priority objective 5 of the 2022 Annual Work Plan: "Strengthen collaboration within the CRN network", which sought to:

- Provide tools that promote innovation and work with agile methodologies in the Vocational Training and Training for Employment system.

- Help the CRNs to incorporate agile methodologies, creativity and innovation as working systems.

- Shift the focus of their work from a predictive to an adaptive approach.

- Work with short customer-/user-centred interaction cycles.

- Train VT teachers in these methodologies. 

2. Participation in the Technical Seminar "Innovation in the CRN Ecosystem".

The Technical Seminar "Innovation in the CRN Ecosystem" took place in Zaragoza on 15 December 2022, and it was organised by the National Reference Centre for Commercial Logistics and Transport Management and the VT Innovation Centre in Aragon. The meeting was attended by most of the directors of the CRNs, in order to present the activities and projects of interest or that could be transferred to other CRNs. Aurelio Delgado, our director, and Celia Ruiz, participated online on our behalf and presented our innovative MOOC "Digital Teaching for VT'", as an example of good practice. 

3. Meeting with other CRNs.

These meetings, scheduled since 2021 in the annual Work Plans, aimed to strengthen collaboration on vocational training and employability, or other cross-curricular subjects with related NRCs, creating synergies that lead to the exchange of good practices and collaborative experiences.

The relationship with our homonymous CRN, the CRN for Production, Carpentry and Furniture in Encinas Reales (Córdoba), was ongoing throughout the year. Frequent meetings were held to discuss our joint activities: the Training Needs Report, which together with the Sector Map, on which we also collaborated, was the seed for the future sector Observatory.

7. Participation as a stakeholder in the Erasmus+ KA22 "SMARTRAIN" project.

The SMARTRAIN project partners met at our premises during the 3rd student mobility which was part of the project with students from Belgium and Italy. This meeting was followed by a visit to our centre's facilities.

In addition, we were invited to participate in a meeting between teachers from European vocational training centres to discuss the present and future of vocational training.

8. Participation in the FIMMA+MADERALIA 2022 international sector trade fair.

In order to increase the CRN's presence in international projects and activities and to become part of a network of centres of reference and excellence in Europe within the wood and furniture and vocational training sectors, we participated with a stand at FIMMA+Maderalia, a biannual international trade fair, a benchmark in the sector, which brings together the latest developments in industrial materials and technologies and which took place from 29 March to 1 April 2022.

LABORA, the Valencian Employment and Training Service had a stand with its training centres specialised in providing vocational training for the group of professionals in the wood, furniture and cork sector: occupied by staff from this CRN and the CIPFP Catarroja.

We collaborated with the CIPFP Catarroja in designing the audiovisual elements and graphic panels that were exhibited at the stand: 

- Relational map of the VT offered in the sector.

- Vocational training at the service of companies.

- Innovation in vocational training.

- Fold-out leaflet detailing the wood and furniture vocational training courses offered.

Likewise, during FIMMA-MADERALIA and on its premises, as part of the programmed activities, the 5th Wood and Furniture Microcluster "Vocational Training at the Service of Companies" was held on 30 March 2022, in a space provided by the Association of Carpentry and Related Industries in the Comunitat Valenciana (ASEMAD).

9. Preparation of two learning and evaluation guides.

Contracted organisation: AIDIMME

In compliance with objective 8 of the Annual Work Plan 2022, two learning and assessment guides were prepared for two certificates of professional competence for the group of professionals working in the wood, furniture and cork sector, pending publication:

- Assembly and installation of wooden constructions (MAMB0210).

- Installation and furnishing projects (MAMB110).

The learning and assessment guides for the certificates of professional competence provided teachers with resources, strategies, procedures and instruments to focus the teaching/learning processes towards the acquisition of the learners' professional competences and facilitate the assessment to be carried out with greater technical rigour.

The guides were produced by a team made up of a technical manager with experience in vocational training and teaching staff with expertise in certificates of professional competence at the different levels aimed at the group of professionals working in the sector.