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18/ 2011
Bonn, 21.04.2011
BIBB and the Bonn-Rhine-Sieg University of Applied Sciences strengthen cooperation
President Manfred Kremer and Professor Hartmut Ihne sign cooperation agreement
The Federal Institute for Vocational Education and Training (BIBB) in Bonn and the Bonn-Rhine-Sieg University of Applied Sciences in Sankt Augustin will be working more closely together in the future. BIBB's President Manfred Kremer and the president of the Bonn-Rhine-Sieg University of Applied Sciences, Professor Dr Harmut Ihne, signed a cooperation agreement in Sankt Augustin today. This agreement provides for increased reciprocal support between the two institutions in the areas of vocational education and training and vocational training research.
The two partners agreed on the following:
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- Close cooperation in the area of 'education for sustainable development'
- Close cooperation in the planning, carrying out and evaluation of 'dual' courses of study
- Joint applications for public tenders that involve (vocational) education policy issues
- Practical placements at BIBB for students at the Bonn-Rhine-Sieg University of Applied Sciences
- Participation of BIBB staff members in courses offered by the university.
Professor Dr Hartmut Ihne, president of the Bonn-Rhine-Sieg University of Applied Sciences, stated at the signing of the agreement, "Education is very important for personal and social development". He described knowledge as a prerequisite for changing the world and shaping it to be sustainable. The foundation for this is laid in schools, vocational training, university studies and the working world, he noted, adding that "today, universities are open not just to holders of qualification to enrol in a university in Germany and young people who have earned qualification to attend a university of applied sciences; our student bodies have become more diverse in their composition." According to Ihne, thanks to the collaboration with BIBB, future research work on vocational training has prospects for being ground-breaking with regard to sustainability.
BIBB president Manfred Kremer stressed how important collaboration with universities and research institutes is for his organisation: "We see this collaboration 0 particularly with the institutions here in Bonn, a knowledge hub 0 as a strategic challenge and an opportunity to raise the profile of vocational training research." The region has established itself with great success in recent years as a location for UN agencies, Kremer noted. "Both the Bonn-Rhine-Sieg University of Applied Sciences and BIBB are contributing their expertise to the activities being undertaken as part of the UN Decade for Education for Sustainable Development which will continue through the year 2014. It makes sense to collaborate right here and now and, for example, plan joint activities that could be conducted at the closing conference for the UN Decade."
Background:
The Bonn-Rhine-Sieg University of Applied Sciences was founded in 1995. Its main campus is located in Sankt Augustin. It has two other campuses in Rhein¬bach and in Hennef. The university is to serve as a driving force behind structural change in the Bonn/Rhine-Sieg region. The Bonn-Rhine-Sieg University of Applied Sciences views itself as an entrepreneurial academic institution that addresses, monitors and evaluates social developments. The university's on-going development revolves around progressively developing instruction with an eye to current and future needs, expanding application-oriented research, increasing the transfer of knowledge, and teaching and providing a living example of responsibility in an international environment.
The university offers nearly 30 degree programmes in computer science, engineering, the natural sciences, social insurance, technology journalism/public relations, economics and business informatics.
The Bonn-Rhine-Sieg University of Applied Sciences has some 50 partner universities throughout the world and a strong network with national and international partners in the science community, trade and industry, the political sector, and society. During the summer semester, nearly 6,000 students are enrolled in the university where some 130 professors teach, supported by approximately 160 research and teaching assistants and some 230 lecturers. The university also has approximately 130 further employees.
The Federal Institute for Vocational Education and Training (BIBB) is a centre of excellence for research into and the progressive development of initial and continuing vocational training in Germany. Its work and research programmes focus on topics of major importance to vocational training policy, VET practice and vocational training research. These are:- Linking research, development and advisory services which together provide the basis for conducting high-quality vocational training research, developing and updating training regulations for initial vocational training and advanced vocational training, and designing and conducting national and international vocational training programmes.
- Fostering open education pathways which allow lateral mobility and enable lifelong learning and the individual's occupational development, and afford everyone access to full, high-quality vocational education and training.
- Fostering innovation in initial and continuing vocational training and the implementation of innovation in VET practice.
BIBB collaborates with some 50 universities and non-university research institutes in Germany and abroad. It fosters young researchers and offers the research community access to its research data. BIBB also advises partners around the world on the development and modernisation of vocational training systems. BIBB was established in Berlin in 1970. It has been located in Bonn since 1999 and currently has some 620 employees.
Point of contact at the Bonn-Rhine-Sieg University of Applied Sciences:
Professor Dr Manfred Kaul, Tel.: +49 (0) 2241 / 865-201; E-mail: manfred.kaul@h-brs.de
Point of contact at BIBB:
Professor Dr Michael Heister, Tel.: +49 (0) 228 / 107-1332, E-mail: heister@bibb.de
Photos will soon be available at www.bibb.de/pressefotos
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