Print version Recommend this page Press release
18/ 2009
Bonn, 13.05.2009
BIBB's President Kremer: "Dual vocational training more important than ever" - Seven new occupations to be launched in autumn of 2009
The Federal Institute for Vocational Education and Training (BIBB) is forging ahead with the modernization of occupations that can be learned in the dual vocational training system (which combines part-time vocational schooling with practical work experience) in Germany. Seven new or updated occupations that require completion of formal vocational training ('training occupations') are scheduled to be launched on 1 August for the start of the 2009 training year. According to Manfred Kremer, president of the Federal Institute for Vocational Education and Training (BIBB), these new training occupations will strengthen vocational training. On the occasion of Training Place Day on 14 May, he stated, "Dual vocational training is up-to-date and modern. It is as important as ever, particularly in these economically difficult times." Working together with experts designated by industry associations and trade unions, BIBB has developed a total of 82 new occupations and up-dated another 219 in the years since 1996. "This underscores how flexible, effective and innovative dual vocational training is."
BIBB's president stressed vocational training's practical focus and the close cooperation between the federal government, state governments, employer associations and employee associations in the development of new occupational profiles. "This leads to a practice-oriented, forward-looking assortment of training options for businesses and enterprises - and, ultimately, for the younger generation." Kremer appealed to trade and industry to offer in-house training for the new recognized occupations and to maintain the number of training places they offer, particularly in the face of the difficult situation on the job and training place market. "Because only by offering qualified dual vocational training can enterprises ensure their own competitive strength on a long-term basis and counteract the shortage of skilled labour. By providing training, they are laying the foundation that they will need when the economy begins to pick up again."
Manfred Kremer appealed to the younger generation to obtain as much information as possible when deciding on an occupation, gather as much practical experience as possible and keep an eye on alternatives to their 'dream occupation'. "Because every year approximately one third of the young men and more than one half of the young women are still opting to undergo training for one of the ten most popular occupations for their gender," Manfred Kremer noted. "By doing so, young people are missing a wide range of opportunities. Germany's dual vocational training system offers training for some 350 occupations and many of them are similar or related to the 'top ten' and offer better prospects."
The seven new or updated occupations that go into effect on 1 August 2009 are:
- Bergbautechnologe (new) [mining technician]
- Industrieelektriker (new) [industrial electrician]
- Werkfeuerwehrmann (new) [works fireman]
- Photographer
- Ceramist
- Musikfachhändler [salesperson with specialization in music]
- Technischer Modellbauer [technical model maker]
The German brochure "Neue und modernisierte Ausbildungsberufe 2009" from the Federal Institute for Vocational Education and Training contains detailed descriptions of the new and updated recognized occupations. It can be downloaded from the BIBB website at www.bibb.de/berufe .
Further information in German is also to be found in Section A5 of the "BIBB-Datenreport: Informationen und Analysen zur Entwicklung der beruflichen Bildung" (BIBB Data Report: Information and Analyses regarding the Development of Vocational Education and Training). This publication can be downloaded from www.bibb.de/datenreport .
