(ANS – Madrid – October 1, 2026) – The General Council for the Church in Education (CGIE, in Spanish) of the Spanish Episcopal Conference (CEE) has awarded the Salesian Congregation the “Stella Prize” in the vocational training category. The award specifically recognizes the Congregation’s commitment to basic-level vocational training, which offers young people facing difficulties in their education the opportunity to continue their studies and prepare for the world of work.
The winners were announced on Wednesday, September 30, during a press conference at the CEE’s headquarters. Through these awards, the CGIE aims to recognize the work of individuals and institutions in the field of education. During the event, the Council’s website and the pilot issue of its Cuadernos publication were also presented. The publication introduces the Church’s teaching on education and helps explore it in greater depth.
The Episcopal Conference highlighted the continuity of the Salesians’ work in vocational training and, in particular, their commitment to basic-level programs. Specific mention was made of the support students receive while learning a trade, a journey that helps them grow as individuals and find their place in society—a form of education rooted in the charism of Don Bosco.
In this first edition, the award recipients included philosopher and lecturer Francesc Torralba, Luis de la Fuente, illustrator and educator Fano, the Nuestra Señora de los Infantes Institute in Toledo, and the Congregation of the Sisters of Our Lady of Compassion. The special prize pays tribute to the 500th anniversary of the School of Salamanca.
The awards will be presented on October 28 at the Pontifical University of Salamanca.
For the Salesian Congregation, “it is a joy to receive this recognition, for which we are grateful, as it honors the work of so many Salesians and educators in Vocational Training, which is so closely linked to our history and our mission. This award encourages us to continue our work and to look to the future alongside young people,” said Fr. José Carlos Sobejano, Superior of Spain’s St. James the Greater Province (SSM).
An Opportunity to Continue Studying
The Salesians of Don Bosco have 56 vocational training centers in Spain, serving 17,985 students with 2,042 educators. They offer programs at basic, intermediate, and advanced levels in various vocational fields.
Young people facing difficulties have been at the heart of the Salesian mission since its beginnings. Today, basic-level vocational training is one of the ways the Salesians respond to their needs. Salesian centers have 214 classrooms for this level, serving 2,562 students. For many of them, following a difficult experience in school, this is an opportunity to resume their studies and discover that they can learn a trade.
Preparing young people for the world of work requires direct contact with businesses. Salesian centers maintain these relationships through partnership agreements and by providing students with on-the-job training. In this way, students gain a first-hand understanding of the needs of each sector, while the centers can keep their technical training up to date.
For students, this also means being able to experience their chosen trade directly and begin taking their first steps into the workforce.
The relationship with the center continues even after students have completed their studies. Internships and job-placement services help students and former students find employment related to their training by connecting them with companies. In this way, Salesian vocational training centers achieve high employment rates.
The Stella Prize recognizes the daily work of the educators who make this training possible—a mission that follows Don Bosco’s vision of offering young people a holistic education based on a Christian outlook on life, with particular attention to those most in need, while helping them prepare for work and for life in general.