Print version Recommend this page Press release
29/ 2010
Bonn, 29.06.2010
Businesses see growing need for dual courses of study and vocational training programmes offering optional additional qualifications
Businesses and enterprises see substantial need for attractive vocational training programmes that include the option to earn additional qualifications and for 'dual' courses of study (which combine university studies with in-company vocational training) in the future as well, according to a survey of more than 400 enterprises which the Federal Institute for Vocational Education and Training (BIBB) recently conducted as part of its AusbildungPlus (TrainingPlus) project. Based on these findings, some 63% of the businesses surveyed expect to see a growing need in their own companies for vocational training programmes that offer the option of earning additional qualifications. Approximately 35% feel that their level of interest will remain the same and only 1.5% think that their need for such training will decline. BIBB ascertained similar figures for dual courses of study: Here 41% of the enterprises surveyed expect their own company's needs to increase. Some 53% assume that their interest will remain the same in the coming years and approximately 5% predict that their needs for this type of training will decline.
According to the companies surveyed, the most important objectives of vocational training programmes that offer the option of earning additional qualifications include improving trainees' social skills and honing their vocational specialisation. They also cite the teaching of skills and knowledge that are not covered by training regulations and improving trainees' general education. This particularly includes earning a higher level of school-leaving certificate such as qualification to study a specific subject at a German university (Fachabitur) or qualification to study any subject at a German university (Abitur). More than half of the companies surveyed see gaps in the range of additional qualifications on offer. Approximately one out of every three cited regional deficits. About one out of every four would like to see changes in content such as the addition of occupation-related language courses or occupation-specific courses aimed at improving the individual's social skills.
In the opinion of the companies surveyed, the most important factors determining the quality of dual courses of study are the meshing of the vocational content with the content of the respective course of university study, collaboration between the particular university and the company providing the vocational training, and the training which the instruction personnel for in-company vocational training has undergone. More than half of the respondents said that the crediting of practical phases, the supervision of students on a cross-learning-venue basis, and close coordination between the participating bodies at the respective learning venues are "very important" or "fairly important". A majority of the companies surveyed said they did not see any gaps in the range of dual courses of study on offer. Nearly 30% however felt that there are regional deficiencies. Approximately 15% additionally noted content-related needs 0 such as in courses in the natural sciences.
AusbildungPlus is a project of the Federal Institute for Vocational Education and Training. It is being funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research. At the heart of the AusbildungPlus project is a database with information on numerous vocational training programmes and courses of study. This database currently contains more than 2,300 training programmes that offer the option of earning additional qualifications and more than 800 dual courses of study. As part of an annual survey, BIBB interviews businesses which are listed in the AusbildungPlus database as offering vocational training programmes with optional qualifications and/or as participating in the provision of dual courses of study.
Further information is available at www.ausbildungplus.de/html/english.php
Point of contact at BIBB for further information:
- Martin Isenmann, Tel.: +49 (0)228 107-2001, E-mail: isenmann@bibb.de
- Andrea Stertz, Tel.: +49 (0)228 107-2220, E-mail: stertz@bibb.de
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