Professional Competencies Acceleration Program. 10th ed.

Professional Competencies Acceleration Program

The Professional Competencies Acceleration Program (PAC) is the most ambitious learning program of the University of Granada’s Talent Incubator.

It is a highly innovative training program which, throughout the academic year, combines different teaching and mentoring methodologies in order to strengthen and develop distinctive competencies which are considered essential for success in professional fields such as social and emotional intelligence, leadership, the ability to adapt to changes, creativity, motivation, authenticity, communication, teamwork and social commitment.

The program offers a learning and development opportunity to 20 university students who will be selected from those with the best academic record in their respective degrees. The program consists of a limited number of intensive sessions that take place from November to June, with at least 50% of the program consisting of six-month professional internship in a company.

Program Core Concepts

Experience Based Learning

Training sessions, designed using the principles of neuroeducation, in which the student takes the lead role in their learning about personal leadership, teamwork and social emotional intelligence.

Support Coaching

Coaching sessions available for students in order to create a space for growth and self-knowledge which motivates them to establish clear professional objectives and specific plans of action in order to achieve them.

Professional Mentoring

The program offers the students practical experience of the real business world through guidance from directors and high level professionals who have extensive experience and long professional careers.

Participate in the Program

Profile of participants in the Program

Each year, the Program offers a training and professional development opportunity to 20 university students selected from among those with the strongest academic records in their respective degree programs.

The shortlisted students come from a wide range of academic disciplines. Over the years, the Chair has welcomed students from Computer Engineering, Telecommunications Engineering, Physics, Chemistry, various Engineering disciplines, Statistics, Mathematics, Business Administration and Management, Marketing, Law, Tourism, Translation and Interpreting, Pharmacy, Labour Relations and Human Resources, and Sociology. In addition, the Program has included students enrolled in a variety of master’s degree programs at the University.

All participants are invited to join the Program following consultations with the academic schools or faculties in which they are enrolled. As part of the talent recruitment process, an initial group of 40 final-year undergraduate and postgraduate students with outstanding academic records is selected.

These shortlisted students then take part in a selection process to determine the final cohort of 20 participants. The purpose of this assessment and selection process is to ensure a strong alignment between the participants’ goals and values and those of the Program itself.

How the participants benefit from the Program

Opportunity

To acquire the distinctive abilities which are highly valued in the business world.

Certification

A certificate of participation which represents important added value on a curriculum.

Unique experience

Coming together with other students of high potential with very different profiles and academic backgrounds.

Networking

A network of contacts of high level professionals.

Knowledge

First-hand knowledge of the internal workings of a cutting edge business, its values and philosophy.

Real work

The chance to do a work placement and work for a first-rate company.

Program Cost

The cost of the program is approximately 4.000 euros per person however, it is completely free of charge for the students that participate after the selection process thanks to sponsorship by NGA Human Resources, sponsor of the University of Granada’s Talent and Leadership Chair.

Chair Sponsors

Program Activities

Phase I. Talent Selection

20 students from amongst those with the very best degree and postgraduate academic records in a variety of fields at the University of Granada participate in the program. Having identified a group of around 40 of the best students from different academic fields, the finalists are chosen by means of an exhaustive “assessment center” process and individual interviews.

Phase II: Intensive conference on Development of Professional Competencies

This intensive conference takes place over a whole weekend and the students share experiences and training in a designated space. The aim is for these young people to have a shared learning experience with other students that also have an excellent academic profile, albeit with diverse profiles and from different educational backgrounds. The training consists of 4 work modules:
Module I. Keys for Leadership
Module II. Self-knowledge
Module III. Teams and Proactivity
Module IV. Communication

III

Phase III. Individual and Group Coaching sessions

Each student will have 5 sessions with a professional coach to work on establishing goals, plans of action, relationship improvement and strengthening values.

Phase IV. Mentoring Sessions

The program offers each student various mentoring sessions with a prestigious business executive. The students are assigned a mentor according to their academic background or their future professional career. The aim is to enable students to get a closer look at the real world of business and the problems the executives face on a daily basis in their different organizational fields.

Phase V. Teamwork

The participants will obtain real experience of working in a team to develop a social project, exchanging their ideas and experiences with the other participants in a team effort. Together they will present the results obtained in a public presentation to the organization with which they have decided to collaborate.

Phase VI. Intensive Conference on Consolidation of Professional Competencies

A conference in which the participants will consolidate the knowledge acquired during the previous phases and which will be put into practice through participative activities.

Benefits after the Program

The Acceleration of Competencies Program should enable students to find professional success more easily. In addition, by participating in the Program the students will be able to integrate into a network of former Program pupils and to gain preferential access to a series of professional and academic opportunities which have been designed in conjunction with the company sponsoring the Chair.

Dates and Registration

Pre-registration (From June 15th to September 30th): Although this program is typically by invitation based on academic records.

Selection Confirmation (Before October 30th): You will receive an email containing important program details and its schedule.

Orientation Session (Date to be confirmed): This session will take place at the Hospital Real of the University of Granada and will be attended by executives from Strada and the Talent Incubator.

Program Sessions (November 2026 – May 2027): The program includes an intensive weekend session at a hotel in Granada and 10 in-person workshops focused on developing key skills currently in demand in the workplace, such as communication, emotional intelligence, leadership, negotiation, conflict resolution, adaptability to change, etc.

All individuals who successfully complete the entire program will receive a certificate of achievement endorsed by the University of Granada.

The majority of program participants are offered the opportunity to join Strada, the sponsoring company of the initiative, either through internships or junior contracts. Typically, this employment opportunity occurs after the completion of the entire program, although in some cases, participants may join prior to its conclusion.

Registration

Although the Program primarily selects students with the strongest academic records, applications are open from 20 June to 30 September 2026. Places are limited.

If you are interested, please register using the link below. A member of the Talent Incubator’s technical team will provide you with personalized information about the Program and will be happy to answer any questions you may have.