Columbia learning from Germany's 'dual' system
Diana Cáceres-Reebs
Translated by: Sarah Zimmer, English Language Service
Columbia wants to reform its vocational training system and bring it more into line with the needs of the labour market. In order to do this, it wants to learn from Germany's 'dual' vocational training system (which combines part-time vocational schooling with practical work experience) and develop lines of action for itself.
As part of the activities conducted under the cooperation agreement between Columbia's vocational training service Servicio Nacional de Aprendizaje (SENA) and Germany's Federal Institute for Vocational Education and Training (BIBB), the two institutes conducted an information-sharing meeting and planning workshop in Bonn from 26 - 28 September 2011. The eight-person delegation from Columbia consisted of the vice-director and executive members of SENA, the president of the national association of small and medium-sized enterprises ACOPI, the president of the national farmers' association ANUC and representatives of FENALCO, the national trade association.
BIBB welcomes its guests from Columbia.
From BIBB: Professor Dr Reinhold Weiß, Michael Wiechert, Georg Hanf, Hans-Joachim Kissling and Diana Cáceres-Reebs. From the Columbian delegation: Gloria Inés Acevedo (vice-director of SENA), executive members of SENA, the president of the national SME association ACOPI, the president of the national farmers' association ANUC, and representatives of the national trade association FENALCO.
BIBB informed its foreign guests about the dual vocational training system in Germany, including the functions and tasks of all players involved and provided a picture of its implementation in day-to-day practice through visits to various facilities. Together with BIBB, the Columbian delegation visited the Metal and Technology Centre of the Koblenz Chamber of Crafts and Trades, the Berufskolleg Bonn-Duisdorf vocational college and the Vocational Training Centre of the Construction Industry of North Rhine-Westphalia in Kerpen.
Berufskolleg Bonn-Duisdorf vocational college: students who are specializing in agriculture
Inter-company Vocational Training Centre of the Construction Industry of North Rhine-Westphalia in Kerpen: trainees (construction occupations)
While visiting the Koblenz Chamber of Crafts and Trades, one member of the Columbian delegation remarked, "I never would have thought that a chamber could be so important for the vocational training system. We ought to consider an advisory and examination function for the chambers in Columbia too."
Columbian delegation visiting the Metal and Technology Centre of the Koblenz Chamber of Crafts and Trades
Inter-company Vocational Training Centre of the Construction Industry of North Rhine-Westphalia in Kerpen
BIBB and SENA considered the planning workshop to be a big success. During the workshop, areas for cooperation between the two institutes were identified and laid down in concrete terms.
The topics "occupations in the agricultural sector and construction occupations", "European Qualifications Framework and German Qualifications Framework (EQF/DQF)" and "Research, Knowledge Management and Information Systems in the Vocational Training Field" which were addressed during the planning workshop will play an important role in the future cooperation between BIBB and SENA. One area of collaboration will be quality assurance and the development of occupational, training and examination standards.
As a next step, an experts workshop on the following fields of work will be held in Columbia:
- The development and modernization of "occupational, training and examination standards and examination procedures" as a contribution to quality assurance in the vocational training field, and
- The establishment of "research and a knowledge management system in the vocational training system".
Key questions in this connection are: How are occupations developing? Which skills and competences are becoming increasingly important? How can future qualification needs and shortages of skilled workers be ascertained? How can forecasts be used? How are standards designed, implemented and evaluated?
SENA was particularly interested in the subject of "research and knowledge management". As the head of the delegation said, "We don't have any scientific analyses of the demand for recognized occupations from the standpoint of enterprises. This could soon change with BIBB's help."
