Print version Recommend this page Press release
42/ 2010
Bonn, 29.10.2010
Hermann Schmidt Prize 2010: five projects recognised for environmentally friendly and sustainable concepts in vocational training
The competition for the "Hermann Schmidt Prize" has been staged for the 14th time under the motto of "vocational training for environmental protection and sustainable development". In adopting this theme, the "Innovative Vocational Education and Training Association" sought to establish a link with the "UN Decade of Education for Sustainable Development" (2005 - 2014), a project which has now reached its halfway stage. This year's competition awarded prizes to projects and initiatives which have successfully implemented attractive and innovative training concepts and provision for sustainable development in vocational education and development. The aim of the Association, which is funded by the Federal Institute for Vocational Education and Training (BIBB) in Bonn and the Bielefeld based publishing house W. Bertelsmann Verlag (wbv), is to use the annual prize it awards for innovative approaches in VET practice as a vehicle for drawing attention to and promoting such projects and in order to encourage others to emulate them. The Association is named after former BIBB President Professor Hermann Schmidt, who led the institute from 1977 to 1997. The prize ceremony took place in Bielefeld on 27 October as part of the 7th wbv "Educational Marketing Perspective" Conference.
The aims of vocational training for environmental protection and sustainable development are to provide individuals with the occupationally specific guidance they need to strengthen their personal skills and competences and to support them in addressing issues relating to the environment and development on a long-term basis. This means that vocational training for environmental protection and sustainable development makes a major contribution towards increasing the quality and attractiveness of vocational training processes.
The winning entries from those initiatives submitted for the competition were as follows:
1st Prize (€3,000): "The Furniture Pass - a guide for sustainable furniture evaluation", BAUFACHFRAU Berlin e.V.
The "Furniture Pass" is a guide developed by engineers and trainers which enables apprentices in craft trade companies in the woodworking sector to identify and evaluate the environmental friendliness and sustainability of the products processed and to carry out improvements where necessary. This innovative teaching material imparts extensive ecological knowledge to the young people concerned, raises their awareness for the issue of sustainability and makes a major contribution towards increasing the quality and attractiveness of vocational training processes.
Contact: Isabel Schmidt und Jutta Ziegler, BAUFACHFRAU Berlin e.V., Lehderstraße 108, 13086 Berlin, Internet: www.baufachfrau-berlin.de
2nd Prize (€2,000): "wasteTrain - training provision for construction waste management in Europe", Occupational Training Organisation of the Construction Industry in the State of North Rhine-Westphalia.
The "wasteTrain" centre in Essen offers innovative solutions for the topic of construction waste management in Europe. A software programme and employment oriented multimedia teaching and learning materials relating to the training of educational staff and learners in the construction sector have been developed in five languages in accordance with the guiding principles of "avoiding waste, reducing costs and safeguarding the environment".
Contact: Dr. Karl-Heinz Bässler, Berufsförderungswerk der Bauindustrie NRW, Ausbildungszentrum Essen, Lüschershofstraße 71, 45356 Essen, Internet: www.abz-essen.de
3rd Prize (€1,000): "Sustainable sales promotion campaign 'Hanover trades fairly'", Hanover Regional Commercial Vocational School (BBS)
The BBS has reflected the growing importance of "sustainability" in the specialised area of the "retail trade" by addressing the topic via a school-based project and implementing it within its training. Around 1,400 trainees have now taken part in the project. Didactic content on "sustainability" and "fair trade" has been prepared in a teachers' book and in a workbook for pupils. The prize winning sales promotion campaign, in which a large number of retail companies in the Hanover region participated, informs and advises consumers about "fair trade" products.
Contact: Hans-Georg Grahle, BBS Handel der Region Hannover, Brühlstraße 7,30169 Hannover, Internet: www.bbs-handel.de
Special prize (€500): "Developing and piloting of a two-year additional qualification as 'assistant for energy and resources (Chamber of Craft and Trades)'", North Rhine Westphalian State Agency for the Promotion of Craft Trades (LGH) and partners
This additional qualification, which is available during initial vocational training for all craft trade occupations, addresses the topic of energy and deployment of business resources and thus makes a major contribution towards sustainable business management. Trainees acquire extensive competences qualifying them for highly responsible and environmentally aware activities within companies whereas the companies themselves obtain motivated young skilled workers.
Contact: Martin Händeler und Barbara Helmig, LGH, Auf'm Tetelberg 7, 40221 Düsseldorf, Internet: www.lgh.de
Special prize (€500): "School company DUPF - services and more", Oettingen Lower Secondary School
DUPF uses ecological and sustainable projects within the vocational orientation phase to prepare pupils in classes 9 and 10 for working life in a targeted manner. The projects tackled included the construction of an insect hotel and the design of a special irrigation system for plant troughs. These projects strengthen the young people's ability to act as part of a team and to work flexibly, conscientiously and responsibly - all of which are relevant attributes currently required on the labour market - as well as enhancing their apprenticeship entry maturity.
Contact: Walter Fuchs und Max Sefranek, Mittelschule Oettingen, Lange-Mauer-Straße 2, 86732 Oettingen, Internet: www.volksschule-oettingen.de
Brief presentations of the prize winning projects and of further projects submitted to the competition are included in a brochure available for download free of charge on the BIBB website at www.bibb.de/hermann-schmidt-preis.
Pictures of the prize giving are available at www.bibb.de/pressefotos.
Reprint free of charge - voucher copy requested.
