Print version Recommend this page Press release
06/ 2010
Bonn, 09.03.2010
Applications invited for the 2010 Hermann Schmidt Prize on the topic of "Vocational education and training for environmental pro-tection and sustainable development"
In the spring of 2009, the Bonn UNESCO World Conference marked the halfway point of the UN Decade of "Education for Sustainable Development" by issuing recommendations as to how sustainable development can be made an integral part of national educational plans. The "Association for Innovative Vocational Training", which is funded by the Federal Institute for Vocational Education and Training (BIBB) in Bonn and the Bielefeld-based publishing house W. Bertelsmann Verlag (wbv), has taken this as a starting point for the announcement of the 2010 Hermann Schmidt Prize, which will focus on the topic of "Vocational education and training for environmental protection and sustainable development".
The deadline for applications is 23 July 2010.
Vocational education and training is not exempt from the challenge of making contributions towards environmental protection and sustainable development and increasing the quality and attractiveness of VET at the same time. In the light of the raising of environmental standards and increasing prices of energy and raw materials, sustainable management also brings business benefits in its wake and produces competitive advantages for the industrial, craft trades and service sectors. "Modern initial and continuing vocational education aligned towards saving the environment and resources enables us to demonstrate personal career opportunities to young people. This is also an area where they can assume social responsibility", says Federal Institute for Vocational Education and Training (BIBB) President Manfred Kremer.
The 2010 Herman Schmidt Prize recognises initiatives undertaken by companies and institutions involved in vocational education and training (e.g. vocational schools, VET providers and chambers) which successfully implement attractive and innovative initial and continuing VET concepts and provision for environmental protection and sustainable development. These initiatives should reach as many stakeholders and participants as possible and should be characterised by a high degree of innovative content, by active company participation and by robust prospects for continuity and further development of the concepts and provisions involved.
Prizes will be awarded to initiatives which, for example:
- are aligned towards company or branch requirements;
- are aligned and implemented in a branch-specific and/or regional manner;
- feature content which addresses inter-occupational cooperation integrating skills relevant to sustainability or environmental protection;
- include cross-learning cooperation and networking and a range of partners;
- are aimed at various target groups;
- deal with competence development for management and training staff.
Awards will be made by an independent specialist jury, and the following prizes will be given.
1st Prize: €3,000
2nd Prize: €2,000
3rd Prize: €1,000
Special prizes may also be awarded
The prize ceremony will take place as part of a specialist conference to be staged by W. Bertelsmann Verlag in Bielefeld on 27 October 2010.
The deadline for applications is 23 July 2010.
The "Association for Innovative Vocational Training" would like to issue an invitation for the submission of applications to the competition.
Application forms and information are available from:
"Association for Innovative Vocational Training" ("Innovative Berufsbildung e. V.")
Head Office
c/o Federal Institute for Vocational Education and Training BIBB
Kerstin Schneider
Robert-Schuman-Platz 3
53175 Bonn
Telephone: 0228/107-2823
Fax: 0228/107-2981
E-mail: schneider@bibb.de
Internet: www.bibb.de/hermann-schmidt-preis
The aim of the "Association for Innovative Vocational Training", a not-for-profit organisation established by BIBB and wbv in 1996, is to initiate, support and publicise innovative developments in vocational education and training practice. The annual Herman Schmidt Prize, which is being conferred for the 14th time this year, recognises special performances in selected VET areas. The prize is named after Prof. Dr. Hermann Schmidt, who was President of the Federal Institute for Vocational Education and Training from 1977 to 1997.
The recommendations made by the Bonn UNESCO World Conference to mark the halfway point of the UN Decade of "Education for Sustainable Development" are available at
www.esd-world-conference-2009.org/de/home.html
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