More than 130 students, mainly from the University of Oviedo, received recognition today for having completed the Martín González del Valle 2021-2022 Scholarships. The EDP Foundation held a face-to-face ceremony this morning, after two years of using the digital format, at the facilities of the Proaza Hydraulic Power Plant. The event was attended by the Rector of the University of Oviedo, Ignacio Villaverde; the Vice Rector for Students of the University of Oviedo, Alfonso Joaquín López; and the Director of the EDP Foundation, Vanda Martins. They all took the opportunity to congratulate them on their achievements and thank them for their efforts during these months.

The 75 students from the University of Oviedo, who have had their first work experience at EDP, have moved to the Proaza Hydroelectric Power Plant, built by Joaquín Vaquero Palacios and which began operating in 1968. Since then, it has become an example of circular economy thanks to the reuse of materials such as railway tracks and stands out for the way it combines art and industry. Today, the most visited EDP power station in Spain welcomed a large group of students who, in addition to visiting it, did not hesitate to have their photos taken with a power station that has come to be defined as an "Industrial Cathedral".

There, some of them were able to discuss with former interns, today in the company, and reflect on their experience, their future, the learning achieved and the support they have felt at all times from their tutors. A space open to dialogue that was also joined by the Rector of the University of Oviedo and the Director of the EDP Foundation. The event concluded with a group visit to the power plant.

Thanks to this programme, the most important of the University of Oviedo and endowed with 800,000 euros, undergraduate and master's degree students from 24 specialities (including Electrical Engineering, Mathematics, Economics, Law and Commerce and Marketing) complete their academic training with real experience. In many cases, the students, who also come from other universities, complete up to 800 hours of training at EDP, as the aim of these scholarships is to facilitate practical training.

The initiative, which celebrates its 38th anniversary this academic year, is part of the activities promoted by the EDP Foundation in the educational field. It is named after Martín González del Valle, who chaired the energy company between 1987 and 1999, and since then was honorary president of the company and of the EDP Foundation until his death in 2015.

The Martín González del Valle Scholarships are remunerated and have a maximum duration of ten months. The internships are carried out in all areas of the company, under the supervision of tutors, who train and help the students. They also participate in innovation and continuous improvement programmes, where they contribute their ideas and share experiences with the rest of the students.

Since its launch in 1983, more than 100 people who participated in the programme have joined the staff of the EDP Spain Group.