Bundesinstitut für Berufsbildung (BIBB)

ASEM TVET Symposium in Berlin

14 March 2012

Photo Credits: Tobias Bohm/DAAD

From 27 to 28 February 2012, Germany hosted the ASEM*-TVET Symposium on national qualification frameworks. The event was organised in Berlin by the ASEM Education Secretariat and BIBB's Department for Internationalisation of Vocational Education and Training.  The symposium offered a comparative Asian-European perspective, and explored the development of NQFs between the conflicting demands of education and employment.

ASEM Symposium on Technical and Vocational Education and Training (ASEM TVET Symposium

Three become one - new occupation of "Office management clerk" to be created

07 March 2012

In the near future: New training occupation "Office management clerk

Office occupations, which make up one of the major areas within dual vocational education and training with just over 90,000 training contracts in place and also include around 68,000 female trainees, are to undergo fundamental modernisation. Under the lead management of the Federal Institute for Vocational Education and Training (BIBB) the experts appointed by the social partners are now joining forces with the Federal Government and the federal states to begin a realignment of the occupations in the sector.The proposed title for the new training occupation, which is to enter into force on 1 August 2013 or 2014, is "Office management clerk".

New occupation of "Office management clerk" to be created

Using professional competence to study

09 February 2012

ANKOM Initiative supports transitions between employment and higher education

The Federal Institute for Vocational Education and Training (BIBB) has taken on the project sponsorship of the next phase of the ANKOM Initiative "Transitions from vocational to higher education". ANKOM is funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF), and its aim is to support access to institutes of higher education for those in possession of vocational qualifications. "The ANKOM Initiative builds strong bridges between vocational and higher education", explains BIBB President Friedrich Hubert Esser.

Using professional competence to study

Promoting continuing training

06 February 2012

BWP 1/2012 now available

Participation in continuing training amongst the working age population in Germany still remains behind the targets set nationally and internationally. Ongoing in-service learning is, however, becoming increasingly significant in the light of demographic developments. The papers included in the present issue of BWP focus on the participation behaviour of the various target groups and explain the possible courses of action via which participation in continuing vocational training can be strengthened.

BWP 1/2012 Promoting continuing training

Agreement on the introduction of the German Qualifications Framework (DQR)

31 January 2012

© Light Impression/Fotolia.com

Friedrich Hubert Esser, President of the Federal Institute for Vocational Education and Training (BIBB), has described today's agreement between the Federal Government, the federal states and the social partners on the introduction of the German Qualifications Framework (DQR) as an "important milestone" for vocational education and training in Germany. "This is the first time that the equivalence of academic and vocational education has been clearly and unequivocally stated", he explained.

BIBB President Esser: Agreement on the introduction of the German Qualifications Framework (DQR) an "important milestone"

BIBB at the 2012 "didacta" education fair in Hanover

31 January 2012

Award of the "Prize for Innovation in Continuing Education and Training" (WIP)

The "didacta" is the largest educational fair in Europe, and the Federal Institute for Vocational Education and Training (BIBB) will once again be maintaining a presence at this year's event in Hanover from 14 to 18 February in order to offer current information, presentations and discussions on issues relating to initial and continuing vocational education and training. One of the highlights of the activities which BIBB will undertake will be the awarding of the "Prize for Innovation in Continuing Education and Training" (WIP) under the patronage of the Prime Minister of Lower Saxony, David McAllister.

BIBB at the the largest educational fair in Europe: didacta

The development of the training market in 2011

23 December 2011

Improved training opportunities for young people, increasing recruitment problems for companies

The training market situation has improved for young people as compared to the same period in the previous year. This is the finding of market analyses based on data from the BIBB survey on newly concluded training contracts as of 09/30/2011 in conjunction with the Training Market Statistics from the Federal Employment Agency.

BIBB survey on newly concluded training contracts: Improved training opportunities for young people

Young people from a migrant background

22 December 2011

BIBB analysis of the progression opportunities of applicants differentiated according to region of origin

Despite the better current prevailing training market situation, the training place search for young people from families with a migrant background remains very difficult. One reason for this is that when they leave general schooling they are in possession of lower school qualifications compared to young people not from a migrant background. This narrows their prospects of finding a training place.

BIBB Report 16/11 Young people from a migrant background

BIBB Bibliography on "German as a Foreign Language"

21 December 2012

All-important in the world of work: good German language skills

Good German language skills are an indispensable prerequisite for successful integration. But which are the up-to-date teaching and learning resources that discuss the world of work and give learners particular practice in communicative situations for working life? To support German teachers working in this area and learners of German in Germany and abroad a new, user-oriented overview of work and career-related teaching and learning media for German as a foreign language has been published.

German as a Foreign Language

German Qualifications Framework

06 December 2011

© Daniel Ernst/Fotolia

BIBB Board calls upon the Conference of the Ministers of Education and Cultural Affairs to rethink

The Board of the Federal Institute for Vocational Education and Training (BIBB) has issued an Official Statement regarding a decision taken by the Conference of the Ministers of Education and Cultural Affairs in the Federal Republic of Germany (KMK) at the end of November. In its Statement, the BIBB Board expresses the view that the Resolution adopted by the KMK with regard to the structuring of the German Qualifications Framework to align the upper secondary school leaving certificate/general higher education entrance qualification to Level 5, a higher reference level than many vocational education and training qualifications, is "not justified in terms of content and not clearly substantiated". Should the Resolution be retained in unaltered form, the BIBB Board - which is also referred to as the "Parliament of Vocational Education and Training" - fears that dual vocational education and training will suffer a loss of attractiveness and that negative consequences will occur for the securing of young skilled workers across all areas of trade and industry.
German Qualifications Framework: BIBB Board calls upon the Conference of the Ministers of Education and Cultural Affairs to rethink

Pedagogical Competences in Vocational Training

06 December 2011

BWP 6/ 2011 now available

The paths that young people take from secondary school to initial vocational training and working life have become more diverse. As a result, the demands placed on the qualifications and pedagogical work of the skilled workers who conduct training have also grown. The articles in this issue of BWP examine the question of which skills and competences are needed in order to successfully supervise and support youths as they learn an occupation.
BWP 6/2011: Pedagogical Competences in Vocational Training

How training occupations are developed

06 December 2011

New brochure "Vocational Training Regulations and the Process Behind Them"

In order to provide today's young people with practically related training and with a good foundation for their future working lives, the contents of dual training occupations, which number approximately 350, need to be kept completely up-to-date at all times and aligned to the work processes and requirements within companies.
The latest and 5th edition of this publication provides information on the procedure for the development of training occupations, a process unique in the world. Training regulations form the basis for training in the dual system.

Download for free: How training occupations are developed

Integration Through Vocational Training conference

29 November 2011

BIBB/Aylin Kayali

"Advancing individuals with talent begins - and not only in the field of sport - with tapping existing potential! The reason for this is that not every talent is easily recognised or makes itself noticed without an external inducement.
If we could succeed in developing and expanding vocational orientation services and vocational training into talent factories throughout the country this would be good for our shared aim and would be particularly good for youths with an immigrant background," BIBB's president Professor Dr Friedrich Hubert Esser stated in his address given at the Integration Through Training conference held in Berlin on 29 November 2011.

Professor Dr Friedrich Hubert Esser: Ensure that youths have the fundamental knowledge and attitudes necessary for successful vocational training - Foster integration!

Certified senior clerk for healthcare and social services

28 November 2011

© Kzenon, Fotolia

New advanced training for a branch of the future

According to a projection by the Federal Institute for Vocational Education and Training (BIBB) and the Institute for Employment Research (IAB), demographic developments will mean that 1 million extra employees are expected to be required in the healthcare and social services sector by the year 2025.
In order to react to this requirement in a timely manner, BIBB has acted on behalf of the Federal Government and in conjunction with the social partners to draw up the new advanced training regulations for "certified senior clerk for healthcare and social services".

New advanced training: Certified senior clerk for healthcare and social services

Assessing competence and progress

07 October 2011

BWP 5/2011 now available

In the wake of a greater orientation towards learning outcomes and the 'upgrading' of informally-acquired competences, the range of methods used to ascertain skills and performance in the vocational training field has become more diversified. How vocational competence can be ascertained and assessed using these methods and the chances these methods offer for opening up access within and to the education system and the employment system are the focus of the latest issue of BWP.

BWP 5-2011: Assessing competence and progress

VET Data Report Germany 2011

07 October 2011

Facts and Analyses accompanying the Federal Report on Vocational Education and Training

The Data Report accompanying the Government's 2011 Report on Vocational Education and Training presents the current situation in initial vocational training and in continuing vocational training as well as highlighting the main trends. The thematic focus this year is the permeability between Vocational Education and Training and Higher Education. This issue is also addressed in a chapter comparing the German situation to the situation in other European countries. 

VET Data Report Germany 2011
This English version gives a selection of the main findings.

Germany's President Wulff underscores the importance of vocational education and training and urges a "new culture of open doors"

26 September 2011

Opening of the 6th BIBB Vocational Education and Training Congress in Berlin

Speaking in Berlin at the opening of the 6th Vocational Education and Training Congress of the Federal Institute for Vocational Education and Training (BIBB) on Monday, President Christian Wulff stated, "While other countries are struggling with - in some cases high - unemployment among their youth, the youth unemployment rate in Germany is low." This shows how valuable an intact vocational training system is for society, he noted. "I therefore want to thank all those who champion this good vocational training system in Germany day after day."

President Christian Wulff: Important role played by vocational education and training in Germany

Press conference at the 6th BIBB Vocational Education and Training Congress

21 September 2011

Press conference at the 6th BIBB Vocational Education and Training Congress

Speaking at a press conference at the opening of the 6th BIBB Vocational Education and Training Congress "Developing competences 0 Opening up opportunities" in Berlin, Germany's Federal Minister of Education and Research Schavan and BIBB President Esser reported a much improved situation on the training place market.
"For young people, the situation on the training place market is more favourable than it has been in a long time," said Schavan.

Schavan and Esser: Positive trend on the training market

Developing competences - Opening up opportunities

21 September 2011

6th BIBB Vocational Education and Training Congress 2011

19-20 September in Berlin

Make a contribution as a VET expert at the BIBB Congress being held in Berlin on 19-20 September under the banner "Developing competences - Opening up opportunities" .

Vocational Education and Training Congress: Program and further information

BIBB new co-editor of the "Internationales Handbuch der Berufsbildung"

13 September 2011

"Assuming the editorship is another important activity for raising our international profile," explained Professor Dr Reinhold Weiß, deputy president and head of research at BIBB. "By assuming this editorship, BIBB will help pool international vocational training expertise in Germany and develop it on a sustained basis."

BIBB new co-editor of the "Internationales Handbuch der Berufsbildung"

BIBB Research Data Centre receives a positive evaluation from experts

29 August 2011

The Federal Institute for Vocational Education and Training has arranged for the free service provided by its Research Data Centre (BIBB-FDZ) to be evaluated by experts via an online survey.
The data, guides and Internet pages are made available for non-commercial external academic research purposes and are viewed positively by the sociologists, economists and educationalists surveyed.

BIBB Research Data Centre receives a positive evaluation

Sharp decline in the number of youths in the 'transition system'

09 August 2011

Train skilled workers for the future

The number of youths who are unable to find a training place is on the decline. This development has been welcomed by BIBB president Professor Dr Friedrich Hubert Esser, who also pointed out with an eye to the start of the new vocational training year that "when this number is to fall even further, trade and industry must make every effort in connection with the soon-to-start follow-up placement campaign to find trainees for the training places that are still vacant".

Training place market: Fewer youths in the transition system

Cross-border mobility

01 August 2011

BWP 4/2011 now available

Cross-border mobility is high on the European agenda. But how mobile are trainees and skilled workers in reality? The current issue of BWP examines the motives for learning or working abroad and conditions which make such stays abroad a success for everyone involved.

BWP 4/2011 Cross-border mobility

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