Print version Recommend this page Press release
43/ 2007
Bonn, 11.10.2007
Continuing training providers generally assess their economic situation positively
Continuing vocational training providers in Germany for the most part assess their current economic situation positively. However, the mood depends to large degree on the financial sources the particular provider has at its disposal. Continuing training facilities whose main source of revenue is enterprises are doing the best. By contrast, the mood among providers who are largely dependent on government sources for funding is noticeably more subdued. These are the findings from the 2007 wbmonitor survey which the Federal Institute for Vocational Education and Training ("BIBB") conducted in conjunction with the German Institute for Adult Education ("DIE"). Some 1,200 continuing training facilities participated in the survey.
BIBB and DIE launched the wbmonitor Climate Index with this year's survey in order to better assess the mood in the German continuing vocational training scene. The wbmonitor Climate Index patterned its method for calculating the mood in the continuing training sector on the methods used by the Munich-based Ifo Institute for Economic Research for its Business Climate Index. The wbmonitor Climate Index shows how continuing vocational training providers in Germany view their current economic situation and what they expect their situation to be in a year's time.
In addition to giving their present economic situation generally positive marks, the survey reveals that the participating continuing training facilities are even more likely to expect good conditions a year down the road from now. However, the "marks" they issue for next year are somewhat lower than the current figures. Compared to the mood measured by the Ifo Business Climate Index, the mood in the continuing vocational training scene slightly exceeds the average seen in the service sector (please see chart on page 2). Thus according to the survey, continuing vocational training providers are also benefiting from the current economic upswing.
However, a breakdown of providers by financial source reveals marked differences. Continuing vocational training providers who generate more than half of their earnings through contracts with enterprises currently report a very positive economic situation. By comparison, the prevailing mood is worse among providers who finance themselves primarily through funds from government employment agencies or other public-sector sources.
The education savings plan concept is largely unknown
The German government is planning an "education savings plan" as a new tool for funding continuing vocational training in the future. The wbmonitor survey however shows that this concept has apparently not yet reached the continuing vocational training scene: Only 30% of the providers surveyed were familiar with the subject of education savings plans. They expect education savings plans to have a positive effect only for qualified workers. As the surveyed providers see it, other target groups - particularly so-called "hard-to-reach" individuals who show little initiative of their own to participate in education programmes - will tend to see a negative development, even when education savings plan models are used.
Providers particularly see a need for action in connection with the future funding of continuing vocational training. It is not enough - according to the survey's results - to continually demand lifelong learning in response to current demographic trends. Instead, government funds have to be increased. The surveyed continuing vocational training providers cited the "education voucher" used in North Rhine-Westphalia as a positive example.
Further findings from the annual wbmonitor survey are available in German at the BIBB homepage at www.bibb.de/wbmonitor.
Continuing vocational training facilities that would like to participate in future surveys can contact wbmonitor at wbmonitor@bibb.de.
Points of contact for further information:
- Dr Gisela Feller, Federal Institute for Vocational Education and Training (BIBB), Tel.: +49 (0) 228 / 107-1124; E-mail: feller@bibb.de
- Ingrid Ambos, German Institute for Adult Education (DIE), Tel.: +49 (0) 228 / 3294-134; E-mail: ambos@die-bonn.de
