Representatives from the Spanish Intertextile Council, the Valencian Community Textile Entrepreneurs Association (Ateval), Valencia Polytechnic University Alcoy Campus, Aitex, and the Spanish Habitat Federation gathered at the Habitat Fair this Wednesday to discuss regional textile education and industry needs. In Valencia, the Generalitat Valenciana Education Department’s proposal to reclaim the textile engineering degree within the community received unanimous support, signaling a commitment to strengthen higher education pathways in textile engineering.
The Valencian textile sector is highly export-oriented and globally integrated. It comprises 1,458 companies with a combined turnover in the several billion euros range and substantial export activity, and it directly employs thousands of workers. The cluster’s structure emphasizes innovation, product development, and responsiveness to international markets, underlining its reliance on a skilled workforce and ongoing technical advancement.
Pepe Serna, president of Ateval and vice president of the Spanish Intertextile Council, noted that Valencian textile firms exhibit strong capabilities in innovation and new product development. He highlighted the sector’s aging workforce, coupled with limited substitutes and persistent demand for highly qualified professionals, which together underscore the urgency of expanding engineering education in textiles.
Given these indicators, the attending agencies concur that advancing higher engineering studies within the textile branch is a prudent move. Vicente Blanes, director of Aitex, explained that the degree would be offered through a dual approach, with parts of the program delivered at UPV facilities under an established agreement. This arrangement aims to provide more technical training and direct exposure to real-world industry conditions, linking academia with business practice in a seamless way.
The initiative would complement the existing vocational education framework and the Master’s Degree in Textile Engineering already available at Alcoy Campus in collaboration with Aitex. The Alcoy region, including LlAlcoià and Vall d’Albaida, serves as a central hub for textile activity in the Valencian community, reinforcing the strategic importance of higher education in sustaining regional competitiveness.
Manuel Díaz, president of the Spanish Intertextile Council, commented that including UPV’s Alcoy Campus as a state-recognized site for the degree is a significant expansion, given that the current option has been limited to the Terrassa Campus of the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya. The broader geographic availability will help address local workforce needs and foster stronger ties between universities and textile employers. [Source: Valencian Intertextile Council Proceedings, attributed to participating institutions]
Pau Bernabéu, director of UPV’s Alcoy Campus, affirmed the university’s readiness to support the program, noting the presence of appropriate facilities, qualified teaching staff, and active backing from the companies that require graduates with a robust understanding of textile markets and engineering challenges. The industry’s demand for engineers capable of meeting evolving market demands and technological shifts was explicitly stated by participants as a driving factor behind the push for the degree at Alcoy. This position was reinforced by guidance from the campus advisory council and aligns with broader regional objectives to strengthen research, education, and industry collaboration in textiles. [Source: Alcoy Campus Advisory Council statements]