Andorra Launches Connecta Education Fair with 2,000 Students

Andorra's inaugural Connecta education fair, held in Andorra la Vella, drew strong attendance on its opening day Thursday, with around 2,000 students from fourth-year ESO and Batxillerat expected over the two-day event. The fair features 87 to 90 stands from Andorran, Spanish, and French universities, vocational centres, professional colleges, and speakers.

Ministers Ladislau Baró, for Institutional Relations, Education and Universities, and Mònica Bonell, for Culture, Youth and Sports, cut the ribbon amid a vibrant atmosphere. Baró described the setup as well-structured and lively, calling Connecta a vital "qualitative leap" in orientation policies. He predicted it would endure, expand, and foster ongoing dialogue with businesses, professional bodies, educators, and youth initiatives. Baró highlighted its complementarity with the fourth French Higher Education Fair earlier that week, which drew 500 visitors, and stressed the need for year-round guidance beyond events—through digital means and continuous support to bridge students' current studies with future careers and citizenship.

Bonell described the collaboration as an early success tied to the national youth plan and childhood-adolescence strategy. She noted it gives young people direct access to comprehensive details on study options and locations.

Students like Emma, Enara, and Valentina, eyeing pharmacy at IQS, psychology, and dentistry at UIC Barcelona, used the fair to confirm requirements and grades. While valuing the local event, they saw Andorra's higher education options as limited, with plans to study abroad. A group from Sant Ermengol school echoed this, prioritising fields like psychology and pharmacy in Spain after years of planning. School psychologist Míriam noted growing external appeal but increasing local opportunities, including dual degrees in law, criminology, biomedicine, business, and marketing, plus rising interest in vocational cycles.

Exhibitors reported positive engagement. Daniel from Universitat Abat Oliva CEU, which enrols 12-15 Andorrans yearly, viewed it as a recruitment edge. Míriam from INEFC Pirineus in La Seu d'Urgell promoted its proximity as "kilometre zero" training, easing housing and travel issues for the few Andorran students there. Virgínia Luzón, UAB vice-rector for communications, emphasised competitively priced on-campus housing tailored for students.

Debut participants included Escola Universitària de les Arts ERAM from Girona, offering degrees in audiovisual/communications, performing arts, and fashion—fields where graduates find strong job prospects despite initial concerns—and UNED, promoting its hybrid model with over 30 degrees, masters, and doctorates across Europe's largest campus network.