Print version Recommend this page Press release
43/ 2006
Bonn, 07.12.2006
BIBB and VLW for more permeability and transparency in vocational business training
Individuals who want to take up a business occupation have several options available today: They can choose "dual" vocational training (which combines part-time vocational schooling with practical work experience) or continuing vocational training, attend full-time vocational school or enrol in a university (or university of applied sciences). Qualification pathways can even be combined. However0and here lies the crux of the matter0training institutions usually have little interest in the skills and qualifications that applicants have acquired in the past. Prospective business people, sales people and commercial clerks are consequently faced with the somewhat discouraging fact that they have to repeat basic subjects that they have already covered during previous training
"This partial duplication of learning and the concomitant waste of learning time and learning capacity is no longer acceptable0in either education-policy or economic terms," stated Professor Reinhold Weiß, Deputy President and Head of Research of the Federal Institute for Vocational Education and Training ("BIBB") at a special conference held in Bonn to examine the current situation and future prospects of vocational training for business / managerial occupations. Jointly organized by BIBB and the Federal Association of Teachers at Commercial Schools ("VLW") for experts from schools, the vocational training field, universities and research, the conference revolved around the theme Innovation in Vocational Business Training!?.
Die vom BIBB gemeinsam mit dem Bundesverband der Lehrerinnen und Lehrer an Wirtschaftsschulen (VLW) ausgerichtete Konferenz, an der Expertinnen und Experten aus Schule, Berufsbildung, Hochschule und Forschung teilnahmen, stand unter dem Motto "Innovationen in der kaufmännischen Berufsbildung!?".
As Professor Weiß noted, much more must be done in Germany to foster permeability between secondary school, vocational training and university education. Transparent admissions requirements and credit procedures for skills and qualifications acquired elsewhere are lacking in all areas of education. "Germany needs an education system that is open to ongoing, continuing learning and to individuals switching between schools and systems or realigning their focus."
Dr. Wolfgang Kehl, Chairman of the VLW, called for well thought-out concepts that help shape vocational business training in ways that will make it fit for the future. "Steps to modernize dual vocational training must aim to establish it as an equal to bachelor's degrees and open the door to corporate careers and self-employment." Weiß and Kehl agreed that in light of the increasingly tough competition over trainees and students, it is essential that all education providers have the same chances0but also have to satisfy standard quality requirements. BIBB and the VLW are opposed to a further splitting of sector-specific business occupations, some of which report very few trainees.
Instead, they proposed Guiding Principles for Vocational Training for Business/Managerial Occupations which outline the role of business people in process-oriented working environments and list shared core competences and skills. Innovative approaches to and examples of a common foundation for business and managerial occupations that allow leeway for industry-specific and company-specific requirements already exist. Ways and means for new structural concepts now have to be developed, tested, supported and supervised with the help of research findings.
Online documentation of this conference is available in German on the BIBB homepage at
The conference documentation "Innovationen in der kaufmännischen Berufsbildung!?" (Innovation in Vocational Business Training!?) will soon be published in German as Issue 55 of the VLR's special publications series.
To order, please contact the VLR by e-mail at vlw-bund@vlw.de
Further information is available from:
- Rainer Brötz, head of the section Commercial Service Occupations and Occupations in the Media Industry at BIBB, Tel.: +49 (0)228-107 2421; E-mail: broetz@bibb.de
