Print version Recommend this page Press release
36/ 2010
Bonn, 14.09.2010
MyAusbildungPlus: BIBB prizes for progress reports from
You have finished school. What now? Vocational training with a supplementary qualification or a dual course of study is an attractive option - but how does it work and what do I get out of it? These questions confront many young people after finishing school. The Federal Institute for Vocational Education and Training (BIBB) is holding a writing competition for the first time to find authentic progress reports by trainees and students, giving interested young people the opportunity to get a first-hand look at the day-to-day training and impressions of others their own age. The best case is that they come to the same conclusion as Juliane Haupey in her prize-winning report on her supplementary qualification as "trades operations assistant": "I knew right away that was what I wanted to do." For her contribution, BIBB President Manfred Kremer presented her with the top prize of 500 euros at the training and study trade fair Vocatium Rhein-Sieg in Bonn.
More than 170 submissions were received at www.myausbildungplus.de. They covered the whole spectrum of dual courses of study and training opportunities with supplementary qualification. Besides Juliane Haupey, Katrin Helmel received the second prize of 300 euros for the report on her dual studies of "mechatronics" at Siemens and at the Bocholt University of Applied Sciences. The 100-euro third prize went to Ruth Lawall for her contribution on her training as an industrial clerk with supplementary qualification in International Business Management at ZF Friedrichshafen AG. "Dual courses of study and training opportunities with supplementary qualification are key components making dual vocational education and training more attractive and counteracting the imminent shortage of skilled labour", said Manfred Kremer during the awards ceremony at the trade fair, of which he was the patron.
Dual courses of study combine vocational education and training or periods of practical work in enterprises with study at a University (of Applied Sciences) or a University of Cooperative Education (Berufsakademie). Supplementary qualifications (Zusatzqualifikationen) are additional skills and capabilities going beyond the requirements of the training ordinance. In a company survey conducted by the BIBB, 63% of the enterprises surveyed spoke of an increasing need for such supplementary qualifications, and 41% said there was an increasing need for dual courses of study.
With their progress reports, the contestants help provide other young people with diversified information on these training opportunities and give them a direct look at the day-to-day education and training routine from the standpoint of people their own age.
The prize-winning reports are now available at www.myausbildungplus.de. Further reports by contestants will be published there in the coming weeks.
"AusbildungPlus" (www.ausbildungplus.de) is a BIBB project supported by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF). Its centerpiece is an extensive database covering supplementary qualifications and dual courses of study. At present it comprises more than 2 300 supplementary qualifications and more than 850 dual courses of study. Interested young people can make a targeted search of the database for suitable opportunities at no cost to them. Providers, such as companies and universities (of applied sciences), can publish the training and courses they offer in the database without charge as well.
Contacts at the BIBB:
- Jochen Goeser, Phone: +49-228/ 107-1789, E-mail: goeser@bibb.de
- Andrea Stertz, Phone: +49-228/ 107-2220, E-mail: stertz@bibb.de
Photographic material at www.bibb.de/pressefotos
