Nestlé graduates first students from dual education program in Colombia's Valle del Cauca

Nestlé de Colombia has celebrated the graduation of the first 10 students from its "Dual Education" program at its Bugalagrande factory in Valle del Cauca. This initiative is part of a broader territorial agenda launched in August 2024, when 33 companies in Valle del Cauca, along with the regional government and Nestlé, signed a voluntary agreement to expand this educational model.

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As part of its structural commitment to youth employability and regional competitiveness, Nestlé de Colombia graduated the first 10 students from its Dual Education program at the Bugalagrande factory.

The program equips young people with the title of administrative technician. It integrates classroom learning with practical experience in real work environments, directly addressing the lack of experience that often hinders access to the job market. Nestlé stated that this model helps close hiring gaps for young people in the areas where the company operates.

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Thanks to this cycle, graduates not only have technical and socio-emotional competencies aligned with current demands, but are already participating in active selection processes within the company to facilitate their formal hiring.

Carlos Barragán, Director of Corporate Affairs at Nestlé Colombia, highlighted the collaboration with the Politécnico PIO (PoliPio) as the regional academic partner. He noted that graduates not only gain technical and socio-emotional skills aligned with current demands but are also actively participating in selection processes within the company for formal employment.

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Promoting Dual Education in Bugalagrande is, above all, a bet on young talent as a protagonist of Valle del Cauca's development.

"Promoting Dual Education in Bugalagrande is, above all, a bet on young talent as a protagonist of Valle del Cauca's development," Barragán said. He added that the goal is to transform the first job from a barrier into a competitive advantage for new generations, driving progress for the region and well-being for their families. The Bugalagrande plant is already planning to incorporate approximately 14 new students into new technical and technological programs at the beginning of next year.

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With the graduation of this first cohort, we seek for the first job to cease being a barrier and become a competitive advantage for these new generations, transforming their knowledge and experience on the plant floor into a driver of progress for the region and well-being for their families.