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39/ 2010
Bonn, 29.09.2010
BIBB and University of Cologne agree close cooperation in the fields of vocational training and VET research
The Federal Institute for Vocational Education and Training (BIBB) is systematically expanding its international network in vocational training and VET research. On the occasion of a joint international conference in Cologne, the Vice Chancellor of the University of Cologne, Professor Thomas Kaul, and BIBB President Manfred Kremer signed a cooperation agreement. The aims of this agreement are reciprocal support, cooperation and the exchange of information in the field of vocational training and VET research. This particularly applies to specialist collaboration in the area of academic research projects and teaching, to the support of examination theses and doctoral dissertations and to academic research practice. A newly established research centre for comparative vocational education and training research to be housed at the University of Cologne (German Research Center for Comparative Vocational Education and Training, G.R.E.A.T.) will act as BIBB's main cooperation partner.
As he signed the agreement, BIBB President Manfred Kremer stressed that education and vocational training today were no longer conceivable without reference to EU policy and to developments in other countries. "The implementation of European initiatives and international system consultancy are increasingly gaining in significance. In addition to this, the German system of vocational education and training enjoys a high degree of regard worldwide." He explained that BIBB had reacted to increased demand by undertaking a significant expansion of its international activities and went on to say that the agreement with the University of Cologne represented a consistent continuation of this strategic alignment. "The aim is for joint international comparative investigations to act as a vehicle for clarifying structural differences and strengths in terms of best practice examples as well as highlighting development requirements within an international context."
Professor Thomas Kaul, Vice Chancellor of the University of Cologne, commented as follows. "The establishment of G.R.E.A.T. has created the first German centre explicitly dedicated to internationally comparative VET research. This can genuinely be described as a first in this field. The objectives are to investigate educational systems in internationally comparative terms, define national characteristics, determine the opportunities and risks inherent within these educational systems and to use research to generate added value for Germany by expanding our horizons. In addition to this, the new centre is, of course, an excellent match for the international alignment of the university."
More than 100 VET experts from Japan, Korea, India, china, the USA and all parts of Europe are expected to attend the international conference "The Future of Vocational Education and Training in a Changing World" to be staged at the University of Cologne from 29 September to 1 October.
The Federal Institute for Vocational Education and Training is involved in a diverse range of activities in the international field.
- BIBB conducts research projects focusing on such issues as the comparative investigation of transitional and company induction processes in various European -educational systems.
- BIBB is a member of a worldwide academic research network. It has now concluded around 40 cooperation agreements with institutes of higher education in Germany and abroad as well as with non-university research institutes.
- BIBB is materially involved in the development of a German Qualifications Framework (DQR), in the introduction of a credit transfer system for vocational education and training (ECVET) and in the implementation of the regular European Continuing Vocational Training Survey (CVTS).
- BIBB advises and supports other countries in the further development of their national vocational education and training systems. The spectrum of services provided by BIBB ranges from short-term local consultancy deployments to joint projects and extends to encompass the establishment of on-going structures of a networked nature which facilitate the extensive exchange of information and experiences. Examples of this include projects in Turkey, India, Vietnam and South Korea.
- The National Agency "Education for Europe" at BIBB acts on behalf of the Federal Government and is responsible for the implementation of European educational programmes and initiatives in Germany (www.na-bibb.de ).
- iMOVE at BIBB (International Marketing of Vocational Education) is a Federal Government initiative for the internationalisation of German initial and continuing vocational education and training services. MOVE assists German providers by delivering a comprehensive range of services to enable them to tap into international markets. (http://www.imove-germany.de).
- BIBB has recently become the publisher of the "International Handbook of Vocational Education and Training" (IHBB).
The cooperation partners
The Federal Institute for Vocational Education and Training (BIBB) was founded in 1970 and is the centre of competence for the research and further development of initial and continuing vocational education and training in Germany. BIBB identifies future VET tasks, promotes innovations in both national and international vocational education and training and develops new, practically oriented solutions for in-company initial and continuing training. In its capacity as a federal institution, BIBB is equally active in the fields of policymaking, academic research and VET practice.
The German Research Center for Comparative Vocational Education and Training, G.R.E.A.T. is a research institute of the Faculty of Business and Social Education at the University of Cologne. Its aims are to investigate educational systems in international comparative terms,¬ define national characteristics and determine comparative opportunities and risks. The Director of G.R.E.A.T. is Professor Matthias Pilz.
Picture material is available at www.bibb.de/pressefotos .
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