You are here:

Language:

 

Print version Recommend this page Press release

38/ 2010
Bonn, 23.09.2010

 

BIBB co-organiser of the German Continuing Education and Training Day for the first time:

BIBB Head of Research Weiß: "Better funding concepts and and targeted investments in continuing vocational training necessary"

On 24 September, when more than 600 enterprises and public institutions campaign for more involvement and investment in continuing vocational training with a nation-wide Continuing Education and Training Day, the Bonn-based Federal Institute for Vocational Education and Training (BIBB) will be on hand as a first-time co-organiser. The reason: Strengthening continuing vocational training is one of the key challenges involved in ensuring Germany's future as a location for business and investment, according to Professor Dr Reinhold Weiß, BIBB's deputy president and head of research and a participant at the main event being held in Berlin for the 3rd German Continuing Education and Training Day: "Investment in continuing vocational training in Germany must be increased substantially 0 particularly in view of the current demographic trend. Differentiated funding concepts that are geared to specific target groups are needed. We must put more effort into integrating those groups who have tended to stand on the sidelines to date. This is especially the case for older people, for individuals who have no formal vocational qualification or who have an immigrant background. Not only the government but also the social partners are called upon to act in this connection."

The first preliminary findings from the annual wbmonitor survey of continuing training providers shows that although the business climate in the continuing vocational education and training (CVET) sector in 2010 remained positive on the whole, the wbmonitor Climate Index has fallen eleven percentage points over its level in 2009. Enterprises have begun investing larger amounts again, a fact that is lessening the effects of the economic downturn in the CVET sector. However, primarily publicly-financed CVET providers are under considerable pressure (see the wbmonitor chart in PDF form in German at http://www.bibb.de/dokumente/pdf/wbmonitor_2010_Abb_Klima.pdf).

BIBB conducts the annual wbmonitor survey of CVET providers in conjunction with the German Institute for Adult Education (DIE). Using this survey, it identifies current trends, calculates the wbmonitor Climate Index for the current economic situation and the sector's expectations of the future, and coordinates the exchange of information on and for CVET providers.   As a centre of excellence for vocational education and training, BIBB is extremely involved in continuing vocational education and training and has a wide range of information and research findings at its disposal:
  • The "Qualität beruflicher Weiterbildung" (Quality of Continuing Vocational Education and Training) checklist contains tips for finding one's way through the 'maze' of CVET offerings and selecting the right provider. 
  • The Innovation in Continuing Education Prize (WIP) with which BIBB singles out innovative training concepts every year with the aim of generating new impetus for continuing training and in-company CVET in Germany. The 2011 WIP will be conducted under the aegis of the premier of the state of Baden Württemberg, Stefan Mappus. The 2011 award ceremony will be held in February in conjunction with the didacta trade fair for education and training in Stuttgart.
  • BIBB's current research projects deal with various aspects of continuing vocational education and training such as CVET financing and the quality of distance learning. In addition, BIBB is involved in the European Continuing Vocational Training Survey (CVTS) on CVET in enterprises. For example, the third CVTS (CVTS3) conducted in 2005 showed that continuing vocational training in enterprises in Germany is stagnating and in some cases even on the decline. Compared to other countries in Europe, Germany ranks in midfield in the area of continuing vocational training in enterprises.
  • BIBB is an indispensable partner in the work being done to regulate vocational training. Besides developing new occupations that require completion of formal vocational training ('training occupations') and updating existing training occupations, BIBB is also involved in the development and updating of recognised advanced training regulations. For example, the number of advanced training and retraining regulations issued by the federal government has increased to 211 - work in which BIBB played a major role. Thus BIBB makes a decisive contribution to the quality of continuing vocational education and training and to increasing lateral mobility between vocational education and university education.
     
Further information: Reprint free of charge - voucher copy requested.

Last modified on: September 27, 2010

Tools:

Publisher: Federal Institute for Vocational Training (BIBB)
The President
Robert-Schuman-Platz 3
53175 Bonn
http://www.bibb.de

Copyright: The published contents are protected by copyright.
Articles associated with the names of certain persons do not necessarily represent the opinion of the publisher.