Print version Recommend this page Press release
14/ 2006
Bonn, 19.05.2006
Increase networking: BIBB signs cooperation agreement with the Rhine-Hesse Chamber of Skilled Trades and the Zukunftszentrum Tirol
Only a fraction of the skills and competences that employees draw on to do their work were learned in the formal education system (such as in school or at university).
In the modern working world, informal learning 0 acquiring competences and skills "on the side" while doing one's job 0 is becoming increasingly important. In light of this, the Bonn-based Federal Institute for Vocational Education and Training ("BIBB") has signed a cooperation agreement with the Rhine-Hesse Chamber of Skilled Trades and the Zukunftszentrum Tirol in Austria (a research institute that examines the changes that will shape tomorrow's working world, develops models to activate people and seeks out opportunities for making Tyrol better able to meet the challenges of the future) in order to increase research and development work on the acquisition of skills and competences. This partnership has the aim of developing concepts that will give individuals as well as companies providing in-house training a system for discerning technical, personal, social and methodological skills. This will make it easier to meet the future demands of the fast-changing working world.
According to Professor Reinhold Weiß, Deputy President of the Federal Institute of Vocational Education and Training, this cooperation illustrates in an exemplary way just how important it is to take part in the Europe-wide discussion on the formal recognition of skills and knowledge. "At the same time however research must be pushed forward in this area and a link established with the practical work being done directly in firms providing in-house vocational training. Our Institute considers this to be an important task 0 a task that will gain in importance as a result of this cooperation agreement."
"With BIBB coming on board, we and the Rhine-Hesse Chamber of Skilled Trades have gotten a strong partner for positioning one of the key topics on the future of work in the consciousness of the broad public," explained Bertram Wolf, head of the Zukunftszentrum Tirol. "Europe's resources are its people and their skills. Some 70 per cent of what we can do is not listed on a certificate or diploma. Making these skills visible and putting them to use to the benefit of the individual person and our economy constitutes the gist of our cooperation and partnership."
Elisabeth Portz-Schmitt, project manager at the Rhine-Hesse Chamber of Skilled Trades, said, "We are pleased that our good substantive cooperation is now getting a corresponding framework. The Rhine-Hesse Chamber of Skilled Trades is proud that its work to improve vocational training for the skilled trades draws interest 0 and responses from even beyond our state borders."
The Skills for Flexibly Organizing a Career on One's Own development project being conducted by the Rhine-Hesse Chamber of Skilled Trades is part of the Leeway for Greater Flexibility in Initial and Continuing Vocational Training development programme being overseen by the Federal Institute for Vocational Education and Training. This programme includes 28 projects and is being funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Training. The technical cooperation under this programme has now been extended to include the Skills Workshop project being conducted by the Zukunftszentrum Tirol.
For further German-language information on the Internet, please see www.bibb.de/de/4929.htm
Point of contact at BIBB for further information:
Gisela Westhoff, Tel.: + 49 (0)228 - 10 71 509, Fax: + 49 (0)228 - 10 72 995, E-mail: westhoff@bibb.de
