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46/ 2011
Bonn, 14.10.2011
Award: BIBB's President Esser receives WHKT Golden Badge of Honour
Professor Dr Friedrich Hubert Esser, president of the Federal Institute for Vocational Education and Training (BIBB) in Bonn has been awarded the Golden Badge of Honour of the West German Chambers of Crafts and Skilled Trades Council (WHKT) in recognition of his outstanding services for the crafts and skilled trades in North Rhine-Westphalia. As Willy Hesse, president of the WHKT, noted, Professor Dr Esser's commitment to and involvement in the vocational education and training field have set standards.
"Important achievements from your work on the Board of the Federal Institute for Vocational Education and Training, in the German Employers' Organization for Vocational and Further Training and in connection with the National Pact for Training and Young Skilled Workers have set new directions and advanced vocational education and training as a whole," Willy Hesse underscored at the WHKT's autumn plenary meeting. Hesse additionally commended President Esser's work in connection with the designing and implementation of the German Qualifications Framework (GQF).
Professor Dr Friedrich Hubert Esser assumed office as president of the Federal Institute for Vocational Education and Training on 1 May 2011. Prior to this time he worked approximately seven years for the German Confederation of Skilled Crafts (ZDH) in Berlin and some 13 years for the Research Institute for Vocational Education and Training in the Crafts Sector (FBH) in Cologne.
The 52-year-old Rhinelander learned his trade "from the ground up". After completing an apprenticeship in the baker's trade in Grevenbroich, Professor Esser continued his education via the "second educational pathway", earning an upper secondary school leaving certificate which qualifies the holder to enter university. He subsequently studied business administration and economic and business education in Braunschweig and Cologne from 1983 to 1989.
Professor Esser's research and work focus particularly on occupational and qualifications research, European vocational education and training, the German Qualifications Framework and the European Qualifications Framework, and the subject of entrepreneurship.
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