Print version Recommend this page Press release
44/ 2006
Bonn, 14.12.2006
Vocational education and training: quality is the best recipe!
Despite the fraught situation prevailing on the apprenticeship market, Prof. Dr. Reinhold Weiß, Deputy President and Head of Research at the Federal Institute for Vocational Education and Training (BIBB), has nonetheless called for the theme of quality in vocational education and training not to be neglected. Writing in the BIBB specialist journal "Vocational Training in Research and Practice - BWP" and whilst conceding that the overriding priority must be to provide a sufficient supply of company training places for young people, Prof. Weiß contends that quantity and quality of training need not be a contradiction in terms. "The better in-company training fulfils the predefined stipulations with regard to quality, the higher the likelihood that training places will be made available."
By the same token, a BIBB study has demonstrated that a majority of firms also holds the view that quality development will continue to grow in significance within their own companies. The theme of quality also represents a main focus of the BIBB research programme for the years 2006 and 2007.
The Head of Research takes a sceptical view of the growing interest of companies in preparing future skilled workers in as customised a way as possible for company specific tasks, in order to ensure that "training will be worth the companies' while". Notwithstanding the fact that these requirements are perfectly understandable in the interests of achieving in-company acceptance of vocational education and training, Prof. Weiß rejects any implied distancing from or even repudiation of the principle of the recognised occupation ("Berufsprinzip") for reasons of quality. The aim of in-company vocational education and training remained to provide occupational qualification for broadly based fields of vocational deployment. "The task for the future will consist of opening up increased opportunities for differentiation and in-company structuring without calling the principle of the regulated occupation into question." This would, however, make it necessary to curb interest in specialised occupations with a narrow field of deployment and low levels of opportunity for development.
Further German language information on the current issue of the BIBB specialist journal BWP (December issue) focussing on "Quality in vocational education and training" is available at www.bibb.de/de/360.htm
Point of contact at BIBB for information on the contents of BWP:
Dr. Ursula Werner, Tel.: 0228 / 107-1722; Fax: 0228 / 107-2967, e-mail: werneru@bibb.de
The results of the BIBB working group "Quality assurance in initial and continuing vocational education and training" have been published as issue 78 in the BIBB German language series "Wissenschaftliche Diskussionspapiere" ("Research consultation papers"). Further information and German language download is available at www.bibb.de/de/5720.htm
