The students from the University of Oviedo who took part in this year’s Martín González del Valle internship program organized by the EDP Foundation have received a recognition at the La Caballería Social Center in Soto de Ribera. Previously, they enjoyed a guided visit to the exhibits of artists Joana Vasconcelos and Isabel Cuadrado at the Bueño Artistic Center (CAB) and the House of the Arts.

During the official closing ceremony of the 2023/2024 Martín González del Valle Scholarships, several personalities had the opportunity to speak, such as the Vice-Rector of Transfer and Business Relations of the University of Oviedo, Susana Luque; the Director of the EDP Foundation, Vanda Martins; and EDP Spain’s tutor of students and head of Evaluation and EFR, Bibiana Martínez. In representation of the interns, Law student Gerardo Fidalgo has shared his experience.

This 2023-2024 academic year, almost 150 students participated in the internship program, 80 from the University of Oviedo and the rest from other nine educational institutions: Carlos III University, CEU San Pablo University, Mondragón University, Cantabria University, Miguel Hernández University, Zaragoza University, País Vasco University, Francisco Vitoria University and the Technical University of Madrid. The students, coming from 23 different degrees and 4 masters, were able to have their first contact with the professional world thanks to the Martín González del Valle internships. Business Managing and Administration and the different engineering degrees stand out.

Susana Luque, the Vice-Rector of Transfer and Business Relations of the University of Oviedo, pointed out that “this is an excellent opportunity for the students to have their first contact with a company, to learn to work effectively in teams and, above all, to start their journey into real life, forging their own path and growing not only professionally but also personally.”

The Director of the EDP Foundation, Vanda Martins, congratulated the interns for their hard work during the past months: “All of you will play a key role in the transformation of our society. And I wholeheartedly hope that your stay at EDP has taught you that collaboration and teamwork are essential tools to advance towards a better world for everyone.”

Gerardo Fidalgo, a law student, shared his experience in EDP's License and Permissions department, where he “was able to fit into the department’s day-to-day activities and actively participate in the tasks at hand.” He asserted that, during these months, he “was treated as a fellow member of the team. Seen that your work has repercussions and that you are doing your part to reach a common goal is very gratifying.”

With this, the 105 students who have lived their first work experience at EDP finalize their formative period, which started in November. Since then, they have carried out their paid internships in the company’s different departments and workplaces. During this time, they have been supervised by tutors from the company, who have guided their steps in the different projects in which they have been involved in the different business areas.

The EDP Foundation’s internship program, gifted with 700,000 euros, is reaching its 40th anniversary this year, and it is the most important out of the ones carried out in the university of Oviedo. It takes its name from Martín González del Valle, who presided over the energy company between 1987 and 1999 and was since then honorary president of it and of the EDP Foundation until his passing in 2015. The EDP Group has been recognized by the Top Employer Institute as one of the best companies to work for worldwide. In the last three years, 250 new employees have joined EDP Spain’s workforce.