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40/ 2008
Bonn, 25.09.2008
BIBB President Manfred Kremer calls for "better interlinking of initial and continuing vocational training"
Federal Institute for Vocational Education and Training (BIBB) President Manfred Kremer used the "2nd German Continuing Training Day" held on 26 September to call for better inter-linking of in-company initial and continuing vocational training in order to foster permeability within the educational system in a sustainable manner. "Although the Federal Government has been initiating the right measures in the form of its Continuing Training 'Innovation in Education' Working Group and by means of such instruments as the education bonus, further endeavours are required in the light of the challenges facing initial and continuing vocational education and training occasioned by demographic developments", stressed Kremer, who went on to say that in-company continuing training in Germany was stagnating and even declining in some areas, Germany continuing to occupy a lower mid-table position in European comparative terms. "Germany will fritter away its future opportunities if a greater degree of significance is not attached to continuing vocational training by all concerned, the state, trade and industry and private individuals."
Current BIBB studies show that a close link between initial and continuing vocational education and training exists at only just over one in ten (12%) of companies surveyed. Notwithstanding this, those responsible for training at small firms and larger companies are aware that this will become more important in future. 87% agree with the statement that lifelong learning will need to act as a vehicle for the closer and better harmonisation of in-company initial and continuing vocational education and training both organisationally and in terms of content.
A clear majority (64%) agrees with the statement that the decline in the supply of workers predicted to take place in Germany from 2010 onwards could lead to problems for their company, although a very different view is taken of the pressure exerted by this problem within the respective branches of trade and industry. A differentiated analysis shows that particularly companies from the "Transport and post/telecommunications" branch (75%) and the "Construction sector" (74%) tend to expect problems, whereas the figure is significantly lower (23%) in "Other personal services" (such as the fields of culture, sport and entertainment).
Most companies seem to have recognised the signs of the times. 85% are already harnessing the strengths and experiences of their older employees for younger staff. This particularly involves emphasising the methodological and social competence older workers are able to provide. Notwithstanding this, a majority of companies tend to adopt a negative view of the opportunities to compensate for the premature loss of older staff by recruiting younger workers. The main reason stated is that workers are not in possession of precisely tailored skills.
Only one third of companies is implementing specific measures to secure the loyalty of older employees for the longer term. These mainly involve special forms of work organisation and regulation of working time (73%), targeted health promotion (48%) and human resources development and continuing training provision in line with the requirements of an ageing workforce (37%).
The Federal Institute for Vocational Education and Training has been participating in the European Continuing Vocational Training Survey (CVTS) since 1992. CVTS is the most important source for information on the quantitative and qualitative structures of in-company continuing training in Europe. 28 European countries and more than 100,000 companies took part in the most recent main survey (CVTS 3).
Acting on behalf of and with funding from the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF), BIBB conducted an additional national survey to supplement CVTS 3 at the beginning of 2008, dealing with ancillary issues relating to qualitative aspects of continuing training. More than 300 of the 2,200 or so companies from Germany which had participated in the main survey also took part in the national supplementary survey.
For further German language information, please visit the BIBB website at www.bibb.de/de/wlk30480.htm
