Orion Project
Observatory of Professional Interests, Vocational Values, and Further Education Preferences of Secondary, Upper Secondary, and Vocational Education and Training (VET) Students
Observatory of Professional Interests, Vocational Values, and Further Education Preferences of Secondary, Upper Secondary, and Vocational Education and Training (VET) Students
What we do
The Orion Project is a research- service initiative that has been running since the 2002–2003 academic year. It pursues two main objectives:
- We study trends in the professional interests, vocational values, and educational progression preferences of students in Secondary Education, Upper Secondary Education, and Vocational Education and Training (VET). We also examine the factors that influence these choices, relating the findings to the current educational and labour market landscape.
- We provide participating schools with access to our "Mi espacio vocacional" (My Vocational Space) platform, which supports students through a personalised process of vocational reflection and decision-making. Throughout this process, students are guided by their school counsellors, tutors, and families.
At the Orion Project, we combine research and practice to provide career guidance that empowers young people to make well-informed vocational decisions, respecting their individual identity while building a strong bridge to their future.
Schools have participated in Orion Project
Students use Orion platform My Vocational Space each year
About Us
Research
Career Guidance Observatory
- Monitoring trends in the professional interests, vocational values, and educational progression preferences of students in Secondary Education, Upper Secondary Education (Bachillerato), and Vocational Education and Training (VET).
- Analysing the factors that influence students' vocational decision-making processes.
Knowledge Transfer
- Disseminating the Observatory's findings through academic publications.
- Providing public authorities and other interested organisations with relevant evidence to support the strategic promotion of vocational education. Career guidance and training within the broader educational landscape.
- Organising academic conferences and events to share the latest findings and developments of the Orion Project.
Doctoral Research
- Investigating the factors underlying vocational indecision and difficulties in academic and career decision-making, as well as young people's experiences during the final years before entering higher education.
- Designing and validating an intervention protocol for students experiencing generalised or complex vocational indecision.
Academic Publications
Outreach Publications
Scientific dissemination
Videos
Explore our video resources to learn more about the Orion Mi Espacio Vocacional platform
Academic and Career Guidance Guide for Families
The main aim of this guide is to provide families with relevant information to help them develop their own understanding of how to approach and support their children's academic and career guidance journey. Drawing on their role as parents and caregivers, families will find key insights to help them understand the different educational and career pathways available and make informed decisions.
We particularly recommend Sections 2 and 3 of the guide.
Section 2
The first chapter explores what it means to support young people during adolescence. The second introduces parenting skills that research recommends developing to provide effective guidance. Finally, the section focuses on one of the most important skills for parents, caregivers, and educators: growth-oriented conversations, which help build strong, supportive relationships.
Section 3
This section explores how families can promote their children's academic and career development by:
- Building on their strengths and abilities through the Multiple Intelligences framework.
- Developing key competencies that will support their future employability, including socio-emotional, entrepreneurial, international, digital, and self-awareness competencies.
- Helping them integrate these competencies into their own Life Project, in which their Career Project plays a central role in shaping and expressing their personal identity.
Each chapter is available in both written and podcast formats in Spanish.
News
Una jornada que reunió a expertos del ámbito educativo y social para reflexionar sobre el acompañamiento al alumnado con necesidades específicas de apoyo educativo
Over the last ten years, Orión has helped almost 350 schools and nearly 150,000 students to choose their future
Media
Media coverage of the Orion Project.
Orion Observatory Reports
Between 2004 and 2008, the Orion Project, in collaboration with the Regional Ministry of Education of the Community of Madrid and the Caja Madrid Foundation, published a series of reports on the educational progression preferences of students in the Community of Madrid.
You can access the full archive of these reports here.
STEM Women Chair
Chair for the Promotion of Women in STEM Vocations in Vocational Education and Training for Sustainable Mobility
Hosted at Comillas Pontifical University (in collaboration with the EMT and Fundación Iberdrola). It aims to reverse the low presence of women in STEM studies and vocational training through reports, roundtables, and student mentoring.
- Research and Analysis: Preparation of reports and academic publications.
- Activities: STEM workshops, visits to schools and STEM companies, inspirational career talks, support for teachers and school counsellors, coaching for schools, and the Aulas+ catalogue of STEM activities.
- Outreach
Partners
Contact
Orion Project
C/ Universidad Comillas 3 - 28018 Alcobendas, Madrid, España
Phone. (+34) 91 542 28 00 (ext. 2511)
Email. ai.orion@comillas.edu