Print version Recommend this page Press release
23/ 2006
Bonn, 11.07.2006
Vocational training - An indispensable key to integrating youths and adults with an immigration background!
The President of the Federal Institute for Vocational Education and Training ("BIBB"), Manfred Kremer, welcomed the German government's plans to conduct an "integration summit" this coming Friday. "It is important that vocational training be a priority topic at the meeting. New findings from research conducted by the Federal Institute for Vocational Education and Training make it clear that there is a need for action here that brooks no further delay. My institute will make these findings available for the upcoming consultations," President Kremer said.
- Intercultural skills
Manfred Kremer advocates that vocational training should put the intercultural skills offered by people with an immigration background to greater use as a starting point in the future. In this connection, he cited a BIBB study that made clear the many uses that these skills (such as language skills and cultural knowledge) have in various occupations. According to this study, this potential can improve the chances that young people with an immigration background have on the job market. This study however also makes it clear that skilled workers and firms are not always sufficiently aware of the possible uses and benefits these skills have to offer. It is therefore necessary, the study concludes, to make those involved more aware of this potential and to create new opportunities for maintaining and further expanding these skills.
- 'Dual' vocational training
A recent BIBB study conducted in collaboration with the Federal Employment Agency shows that even when they have the same prior education and offer the same scholastic prerequisites, applicants with an immigration background have markedly fewer chances of landing an in-company training place than native German applicants do. This is also reflected by the sustained decline seen over the years in the share of foreign adolescents in Germany's 'dual' vocational training system (which combines part-time vocational school with practical work experience). This, the study says, makes it necessary to launch measures to create more training places and to give adults who have not completed any formal vocational training a second chance to complete a course of training so that all young people with an immigration background have an opportunity to earn formal qualification in a recognized occupation.
- JOBSTARTER / KAUSA programme
KAUSA is the German acronym for "coordinating office for training in foreign firms". The aim of this programme is to increase the share of in-house training places being offered by companies owned by foreign nationals. KAUSA is part of the new JOBSTARTER training place programme that is funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research and is being conducted by BIBB. Eight project applications that directly canvas foreign-owned firms in various areas to provide more training places were approved during JOBSTARTER's first funding round. Today a total of 25 projects and campaigns are being conducted in cities and areas throughout the country - with success: Some 6,000 new training places have been created over the last four years. All in all, it is estimated that foreign companies currently offer a total of some 25,000 training places in Germany.
- Continuing vocational training
Continuing vocational training courses which are attended by both native Germans and immigrants present special challenges for instruction personnel. According to a BIBB study, instruction personnel has not to date been systematically prepared to deal with such challenges which include dealing competently with learners who are taking the particular course in German although it is not their native language; knowledge of cultural peculiarities that could influence the teaching/learning process; and developing a team identity within the individual learning group. Corresponding courses for trainers are just one example of what is needed in order to ensure the quality of continuing vocational courses with German and foreign participants.
The following recent publication offers further information in German:
Federal Institute for Vocational Education and Training / Friedrich Ebert Foundation (Eds.):
Kompetenzen stärken, Qualifikationen verbessern, Potenziale nutzen. Berufliche Bildung von Jugendlichen und Erwachsenen mit Migrationshintergrund. [Increase skills, improve qualifications, use potential. Vocational training for youths and adults with an immigration background] Bonn, 2006.
This publication can be downloaded at: www.bibb.de/de/22093.htm
Further information is also available at BIBB from:
Karola Hörsch, Tel.: +49 (0) 228 / 107-1203; E-mail: hoersch@bibb.de
Dr. Mona Granato, Tel.: +49 (0) 228 / 107-1227; E-mail: granato@bibb.de
Fatma Sarigöz, Tel.: +49 (0) 228 / 107-1338; E-mail: sarigoez@bibb.de (regarding the JOBSTARTER/KAUSA programme)
Dr. Monika Bethscheider; Tel.: +49 (0) 228 / 107-1229; E-mail: bethscheider@bibb.de
