FES will introduce a professional master’s degree in remotely piloted aircraft (drones) in the next academic year, aiming to train highly specialized technical profiles and respond to the new needs of industry and public services. The initiative stems from the desire of the Eduard Soler Foundation (FES) to anticipate technological transformations and labor market evolution.
The new master’s degree builds on the center’s more than 25-year track record in technical and technological training, constantly incorporating the latest innovations to add value to professional profiles and improve company competitiveness. Drone training is a natural evolution of this approach, as it integrates key knowledge in control systems, electronics, connectivity, electric motors, batteries, and component integration for professional applications.
A technology with increasingly broad applications
Civil drone use is steadily growing in both public and private sectors. Currently, these aircraft are used in tasks such as fire prevention and control, emergencies, search and rescue, and traffic monitoring, as well as in diverse business sectors: surveying, logistics, energy, agriculture, forestry, audiovisuals, and light shows, among others.
This expansion of applications drives a growing demand for qualified technicians, not only in piloting but also in drone maintenance, design and construction, control systems, and the development of new applications. Some studies suggest that the number of professionally used drones in Europe could reach half a million by 2035, consolidating this field as a profession of the future.
Official training and collaboration with BCN Drone Center
The master’s degree offered in Ripoll has the official title “Professional Master’s in Remotely Piloted Aircraft” from the Department of Education, valid and recognized throughout Spain, and is accredited with 30 university credits (ECTS). Currently, this program is only available in Barcelona and the Terres de l’Ebre, positioning Ripoll as a new reference training hub in this field.
To ensure a high level of specialization, the program collaborates with BCN Drone Center, a pioneering company in civil drones in Europe. Through this partnership, students will have access to top-level facilities for demonstrations and flight tests in a 5,000-hectare segregated airspace, as well as updated knowledge on the latest sector innovations.
Talent, territory, and competitiveness
One of the master’s objectives is to provide new specialized professional profiles that enable local companies to be more competitive, while creating an opportunity for talent from the region and across the country to train in a technology with high growth potential. Currently, between 80% and 85% of FES students come from outside Ripollès, and some of these students eventually settle in the area, contributing to the economic and industrial development of the region.
With this new training offer, FES strengthens its position as a center for specialized technical training and as a reference in adapting the educational system to the new demands of industry and society.
