Spain – Conference of Salesian Schools of Graphic Arts

The Salesians of Pamplona hosted the second technical conference for graphic arts teachers on 11 and 12 June 2024, with around 40 participants from Salesian schools across Spain. Each day began with presentations on transformative topics, including a talk by University of Navarra professors Francesc Pujol and Alejandro N. García on “How to improve learning with AI.” They highlighted the significant impact of AI on future jobs and the potential to enhance or hinder the learning process, challenging teachers to integrate AI effectively based on the “golden rule” of enhancing existing knowledge.

The second day featured Fernando Valera, founder of “Materialigth” and an expert in functional printing, who discussed the future possibilities of this innovative branch of graphic arts. He emphasized the importance of expanding training in Graphic Arts to include functional printing, presenting it as a disruptive market niche that could transform traditional printing businesses.

The “INFINITE” Project was presented at this event, with the Salesian Institute of Pamplona as a key partner, alongside the Functional Press Cluster, the Government of Navarre, and various international entities. Funded by the European Union under the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA), the project aims to promote functional printing in the region. The Salesians in Pamplona plan to create a specialization course in functional printing, while other partners will develop similar training programs in their respective countries. The initial dissemination activities included a presentation to Salesian graphic arts schools in Spain and interviews with department directors to assess the needs for implementing this innovative training.