Print version Recommend this page Press release
44/ 2008
Bonn, 30.10.2008
The 2008 Hermann Schmidt Prize:
"Vocational education and training that provides assistance and demands performance - Training concepts for different groups of youths and young adults "
Four projects singled out for outstanding achievement
Trainees are about to become scarce in Germany because fewer young people will be available to the employment market in the future as a result of the current demographic trend. At the same time, ever greater numbers of older workers will be retiring. Some sectors and regions are already desperately looking for skilled workers, particularly highly qualified workers. This development will become increasingly critical in the coming years if steps to counter it are not taken in time. For this reason, enterprises, firms and institutions have to develop strategies and plans today that will take effect tomorrow.
The focus of the Hermann Schmidt Prize - which was awarded this year for the 12th time - was on fostering innovative, target group-specific training concepts that are aimed at integrating youths and young adults who require special support, dismantling the disadvantages they face and supporting their special talents.
The Innovative Berufsbildung e.V. association for innovation vocational education and training awards the Hermann Schmidt Prize every year with the aim of drawing attention to innovative approaches in day-to-day vocational training practice, fostering them and showcasing them as examples worth emulating.
The winners selected from the 30 submissions were:
1st Prize (€ 3,000): Bosch Rexroth AG for the project "Smile - Soziales Miteinander im Leben entwickeln" (Smile - Developing social-mindedness for living together in one society)
Working together with local social services, Bosch Rexroth AG launched a volunteer community service week for second-year trainees in order to foster social skills such as helpfulness, commitment, respect, patience and team spirit among participants. Following the volunteer week, individuals with a disability are invited to undergo a short practical at Bosch Rexroth AG and the trainees are put in charge of planning and overseeing the practical (under the guidance of a project supervisor). Small groups work on projects and practical assignments at the social services and at Bosch Rexroth AG. Participating trainees learn how to contribute their abilities and skills in a spirit of partnership. Assuming responsibility for these activities fosters their personal development and maturity. Approximately 50% of each training class participates in this project every year.
Point of contact: Arno Schmitt, Bosch Rexroth AG, Zum Eisengießer 1, 97816 Lohr am Main,
E-mail: bianca.holzinger@boschrexroth.de , Internet: www.boschrexroth.com
2nd Prize (€ 2,000): IHK-Bildungszentrum Schwerin gemeinnützige Gesellschaft mbH (Non-profit Training Centre of the Schwerin Chamber of Industry and Commerce) with its project "Ausbildungskooperation Berufsschule - Wirtschaft (ABsW)" (Training collaboration between part-time vocational schools and industry)
In order to respond in time to shortages of milling machine operators with CNC qualification, a campaign was launched in Western Mecklenburg with the aim of creating additional training places and offsetting the shortage of skilled workers in the metal-working sector. Through this campaign, 24 unplaced applicants from previous years - some of whom had earned below-average marks in secondary school - underwent full-time school-based training. Prior to this campaign each of these youths had written an average of more than 30 applications and been invited to an average of five interviews. To date, 13 youths who participated in this scheme had the opportunity to switch to in-company vocational training at a participating firm. Eighty-three additional training places were created.
Point of contact: Hans-Jürgen Bruhn, IHK-Bildungszentrum Schwerin, Werkstraße 114, 19061 Schwerin, E-mail: bruhn@ihk-bz-sn.de , Internet: www.ihk-bz-sn.de
3rd Prize (€ 1,000): METRO Group and the Bundesarbeitsgemeinschaft der Berufsbil¬dungswerke (BAG BBW - Federal Association of Vocational Training Centres for Disabled Juveniles) for their project "VAmB - Verzahnte Ausbildung mit den Beufsbildungswerken" (Interlinked vocational training with vocational training centres for disabled juveniles)
The aim of this joint project is to make it possible for young people with a (learning) disability - many of whom experience difficulties accessing the open vocational training market - to receive full in-company vocational training. The METRO Group has assumed responsibility for the in-company phases of practical training, which specially trained instructors from the BBW assist. The results of this 'interlinked' vocational training shows that a greater number of youths who have a (learning) disability and have earned formal vocational qualification are subsequently hired than youths who have earned qualification through straightforward in-house training at the BBW. The fifth round of this successful project began in the autumn of 2007. Some 200 trainees, 32 BBW firms and approximately 160 training companies from throughout Germany are currently participating.
Point of contact: Olaf Stieper, METRO AG, Schlüterstraße 1, 40235 Düsseldorf,
E-mail: stefan.noppenberger@metro.de , Internet: www.vamb-projekt.de
Special Hermann Schmidt Prize (€ 500): Education office of the Koblenz Chamber for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises for the (e)motion! vocational training project
Taking an unusual approach, this project combines vocational preparation schemes for disadvantaged youths with public dance performances. The Mayen-Koblenz branch office of the Federal Employment Agency that is responsible for ensuring the basic minimum income level of unemployed jobseekers, the Ministry of Labour of the State of Rhineland-Palatinate and the Rhenish Philharmonic State Orchestra collaborated on the project. Provided with artistic, socio-educational and technical guidance, participating trainee painters, varnishers, hairdressers, masons and plant mechanics were responsible for the performance, the sets, props, make-up, styling, logistics and catering. The unusual combination of skilled crafts, music and art activated participants' creative abilities and strengthened individual core skills such as motivation, reliability, perseverance, team spirit and the physical ability to cope with pressure. To date, 51 of the youths who participated in the project have subsequently started in-house vocational training. Another 23 are to sign a training contract soon.
Point of contact: Bernd Hammes, Handwerkskammer Koblenz/Pädagogische Anlaufstelle, St.-Eli¬sa¬beth-Straße 2, 56073 Koblenz, E-mail: pa@hwk-koblenz.de , Internet: www.hwk-koblenz.de
The supplement in Issue 6/2008 of the journal Berufsbildung in Wissenschaft und Praxis - BWP (Vocational Training Research and Practice) published by the Federal Institute for Vocational Education and Training (BIBB) contains brief descriptions in German of the prize-winning projects and other competing projects.
The supplement can be downloaded free of charge from the BIBB website at www.bibb.de/hermann-schmidt-preis
