BIBB intensifies cooperation with Mexico
The Federal Institute for Vocational Education and Training (BIBB) hosted a high-ranking delegation from its Mexican partner institution CONALEP (Colegio Nacional de Educación Profesional Técnica/National College of Technical Professional Education) in Bonn from 22 to 24 March 2010. The aim of the visit was to intensify bilateral cooperation and define key areas for future collaboration.
CONALEP is a decentralised public institution that operates in all 32 of Mexico's federal states. It was founded in 1978 and trains a total of approximately 287,000 students at some 300 branches throughout the country. CONALEP also conducts continuing training programmes for skilled workers and aptitude tests. CONALEP currently employs around 14,600 instructors. The 14-member delegation was led by Francisco de Padua Flores Flores, the executive director of the central development division at CONALEP. He was accompanied by the directors-general from the country's most important states.
The visit was the result of a cooperation agreement on the exchange of information on research and key areas of work and on BIBB advisory services which BIBB's President Manfred Kremer signed in March 2009 during a visit to Mexico.The managing director of SEQUA, Mr Gebhard Weiss, and representatives from the Koblenz Chamber of Crafts and Skilled Trades also participated in the meetings at BIBB.
Mexico has successfully introduced dual elements into its vocational training system in recent years. For this reason BIBB's President Manfred Kremer underscored in his welcoming speech BIBB's willingness to provide CONALEP continued guidance along this path: "BIBB is open to serious efforts to support in an advisory capacity industry-oriented dual vocational training in Mexico at every stage with our accumulated experience."
The discussions at BIBB also revolved around Germany's experience in integrating trade and industry into the provision of vocational training in general and, especially, around sharing experience with initial and continuing in-company vocational training for the occupation Mechatronics Fitter. It was agreed that experts from BIBB and experts from SEQUA in Mexico would develop a pilot project that could be used to provide advice in several fields: the participation of Mexican trade and industry in the provision of vocational training, training for instructors and trainers, and also the development of standards and curricula. The mechatronics occupational field was chosen as a particularly suitable example that would be of interest for Mexico.
The programme for the delegation also included a visit to the Koblenz Chamber of Crafts and Skilled Trades where the guests were informed about the role that the chambers play in the German vocational training system. Visits to a photovoltaic plant and to a provider of teaching materials and learning aids were also part of the information-gathering trip.
