Print version Recommend this page Press release
25/ 2008
Bonn, 19.06.2008
Continuing training climate in Germany: best results achieved by Berlin, Hamburg, Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg
The results of an investigation into the continuing training climate at the end of 2007 conducted by the Federal Institute for Vocational Education and Training (BIBB) and the German Institute for Adult Education (DIE) reveal that Berlin, Hamburg, Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg occupy the leading positions in continuing training, whereas Bremen, Thuringia and Mecklenburg Western Pomerania register the lowest values. By dint of the fact that Berlin and Hamburg are "City States", the good results they have achieved have their basis to a certain extent in their catchment areas, which extend into a country environment. Berlin further seems to be benefitting from a "capital city bonus". BIBB and DIE also used around 17,000 address records to calculate the density of continuing training within the federal states (see map "Density of continuing training providers in Germany and their continuing training climate results 2007").
Within the scope of the Continuing Training Monitor (wbmonitor = a regular survey of continuing training providers), most providers were also asked about their current economic situation and their expectations for the near future. The wbmonitor Climate Index for Continuing Training, which is calculated via these two indicators and is based on the German Institute for Economic Research (ifo) Business Climate Index, stood at +26 at the end of 2007 (on a scale of -100 to +100). This shows that the economic upturn is obviously beginning to be felt in the area of continuing training, although not everywhere and not to the same extent by all providers. The continuing training sector is, for example, exhibiting a certain East-West or North-South divide in terms of economic power.
A considerable climatic difference is evident between providers of continuing vocational training and general continuing training (see table). Institutions offering continuing vocational training are the main factor influencing the overall positive picture, the climate value of such establishments being above average at +30, and with a proportion of 56% they also constitute the largest group of providers. Institutions offering only general, political or cultural continuing training on the other hand view their situation as less "rosy". The climate value of these establishments is a mere +0.6, although they also constitute the smallest constituent part of the market, representing a proportion of 6%. 38% of all institutions offer both continuing vocational training and general continuing training. The climate value of these establishments is +20, much closer to the levels achieved by institutions which provide continuing vocational training only. A previous wbmonitor survey shows that many providers of continuing training feel that political action is necessary, especially in the form of public funding. This seems to affect providers of general continuing training to a particular degree, something which is reflected in their climate index results.
Private providers and self-employed trainers show the highest climate index values at +34 and +37 respectively, followed by Universities of Applied Sciences and institutions operated by trade and industry. The lowest values are reported by establishments run by church and trade union institutes and by adult education centres.
Chart: Climate values for constituent groups
Source: wbmonitor provider research 2007 conducted by BIBB and DIE 2007. Submissions for the calulation of the climate index values were received from around 6,000 survey participants.
The "Provider Research" project was conducted by BIBB and DIE under the auspices of wbmonitor. The project was commissioned by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research and took place in conjunction with the Institute for Development Planning and Structural Research at the University of Hanover. For further results, please visit www.anbieterforschung.de (German language site).
Detailed English language information on the wbmonitor surveys is available at http://www.bibb.de/en/11920.htm .
