BIBB / BIBB and Chinese partners generate new impetus for collaboration in applied vocational training research

BIBB and Chinese partners generate new impetus for collaboration in applied vocational training research

Julia Schmidt, Gert Zinke

Strong interest was shown in the BIBB stand at the pavilion of the Federal Ministry of Education and Research at the Germany Promenade

In March 2009, Germany's Federal Ministry of Education and Research and its Chinese partners - the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Science and Technology - proclaimed the Sino-German Year of Science and Education . The Sino-German Year of Science and Education will offer an opportunity to incorporate the subject of vocational education and training to a greater degree in Sino-German talks. This subject is currently being given high priority at political level in China: Initial and continuing vocational training is viewed as an important prerequisite for economic and social development. As a result, the Chinese government has made significant funding available for expanding the vocational training system and improving the quality of vocational training being offered. Important starting points include improving the training and qualifications of instruction personnel, improving the practical part of vocational training (and consequently making it more pertinent to employment), and increasing the capacity of vocational schools.

The activities conducted in June 2009 aimed at generating new impetus for the productive collaboration that German and Chinese partners have already practised for many years now in the vocational education and training field. In keeping with this, BIBB had a stand at the Germany Promenade sponsored by the Germany and China - In Motion Together campaign in Shenyang where it also organized a workshop on future collaboration in the area of vocational training research.

The BIBB stand at the Germany Promenade

Workshop participants at the Germany Promenade

The Germany Promenade was held in Shenyang from 12 - 20 June 2009 as part of the Germany and China - In Motion Together campaign. Shenyang was the fourth station following Guangzhou, Chongquing and Nanjing. The Germany Promenade will visit Wuhan in late 2009 and Shanghai in 2010 (in connection with the Expo 2010). Sustainable urbanization was the overall theme of the exhibition in Shenyang. Germany's Federal Ministry of Education and Research was on hand with its own pavilion.

The vocational training stand was located in this pavilion. The stand was designed by BIBB, iMOVE and the Stuttgart-based Elektro Technologie Zentrum (ETZ). To establish a tie to the Promenade's overall theme, the stand highlighted the subject of initial and continuing vocational training in Germany using the example of electrical occupations for which solar energy / regenerative energies are of relevance.

The stand drew large numbers of visitors nearly every day of the Promenade. The presentation of vocational training in combination with the example of photovoltaic was particularly attractive to visitors. Most of the visitors had a general interest in education in Germany. However many professionals also visited the stand and conducted intensive talks.

Workshop on future collaboration in the area of vocational training research

This workshop was jointly organized by BIBB and the Institute for Vocational Education at Tongji University in Shanghai (http://de.tongji.edu.cn/de/default.asp). Participants from China included experts from vocational training institutes in Peking and Shenyang, from institutions of higher education, and from vocational training authorities and universities in Shenyang.

The workshop identified four thematic priorities which will constitute the basis for decisions on possible collaborative projects:

Quality of vocational training
Accompanying scientific research on pilot projects
Training personnel
Vocational training report.

Outlook

The results of the workshop were documented in a joint protocol which will be forwarded to the relevant ministries (Germany's Federal Ministry of Education and Research and China's Ministry of Education). The proposed subjects will be developed into project proposals this summer in the course of an ongoing dialogue. The Frankfurt Book Fair (where China will be the guest country), the celebrations on the 60th anniversary of the People's Republic of China and the 20th anniversary of government cooperation between Germany and China will provide opportunities for further discussions and more concrete agreements this autumn.

Last modified on: July 2, 2009