The Spanish Council of Ministers approved three new vocational training specialization courses in March 2026, two of which focus on AI and machine learning. These courses are part of the national vocational education system (Formación Profesional) and are available to students across Spain, including Madrid.
The first specialization, “Machine Learning: Data Management and Training,” is a higher-level course (800 hours) teaching data extraction, processing, and analysis to prepare AI systems. The second, “Machine Learning: Installation, Deployment and Operation of Systems,” is a higher-level course (540 hours) focused on implementing AI systems in work environments, including installation, configuration, deployment, and maintenance of AI-based tools and applications. A third course on insecticulture was also approved.
These courses are integrated into the national catalog of over 12,400 vocational trainings and align with labor market demand and government modernization objectives. Implementation procedures are being developed for rollout beginning in academic year 2026-2027.
Who it affects: Secondary-level students pursuing vocational education (typically ages 16 and older), particularly those in Madrid and other regions. These are advanced-level specializations requiring completion of prerequisite FP cycles. Graduates are prepared for employment in data science and AI operations roles.
What is notably missing: These are technical training courses for specialized workforce preparation, not general AI literacy. They do not address AI ethics, responsible AI use, societal impact, or critical evaluation of AI systems. There is no mandate that all vocational students, regardless of specialization, receive AI literacy or ethics training. The courses serve a subset of the student population pursuing careers in technical fields, leaving the broader population of secondary students without formal AI education. No information indicates whether teacher training for these new courses includes ethics or responsible AI components.