THE ‘GIPUZKOA IREKI’ PROJECT CONCLUDES ITS FIRST EDITION BY VALIDATING A NEW MODEL FOR ATTRACTING INTERNATIONAL TECHNICAL TALENT

The ‘GIPUZKOA IREKI: Attraction and Dual Training of International Technical Talent’ project, developed by Ieteam, AFM Cluster and IMH Campus and funded by the Provincial Council of Gipuzkoa, has completed its first edition with very positive results for the region's industrial sector. The initiative has demonstrated that it is possible to attract qualified technical talent to Gipuzkoa and accompany them on a training and integration pathway that responds to the real needs of industry.

During this first pilot phase, the project has managed to attract and accompany four international students from Colombia and Peru, who have already joined the Dual Master's Degree in Digital Manufacturing at IMH Campus and have started their internships in local companies. This progress confirms the validity of a comprehensive model that combines international recruitment, specialised dual training and social and labour integration, articulated through a reception process that includes practical information on procedures, housing, transport and personalised support.

A particularly noteworthy aspect of this edition was the participation of women in the programme, reinforcing the commitment of IMH Campus and the promoting entities to diversity, equal opportunities and the presence of women in technological and high added-value fields.

For AFM Cluster, the success of this project shows that attracting international technical talent is a strategic way to respond to the growing demand for specialised profiles in the field of Advanced Manufacturing. Gipuzkoa, as a leading industrial region, needs to continue to attract qualified talent in order to maintain its competitiveness and continue to lead innovation processes.

Following the positive results obtained, the participating entities are already working on the design of the next steps that will allow this model to be expanded and consolidated in future editions, with the aim of making GIPUZKOA IREKI a stable programme at the service of the region's industrial development.