Print version Recommend this page Press release
11/ 2012
Bonn, 07.03.2012
Three become one - new occupation of "Office management clerk" to be created
Office occupations, which make up one of the major areas within dual vocational education and training with just over 90,000 training contracts in place and also include around 68,000 female trainees, are to undergo fundamental modernisation. Under the lead management of the Federal Institute for Vocational Education and Training (BIBB), the experts appointed by the social partners are now joining forces with the Federal Government and the federal states to begin a realignment of the occupations in the sector. The plan is for training leading to qualification in the three occupations of office management clerk, commercial clerk for office communication and specialist in office communication to be replaced by a new single standardised three-year training occupation. The proposed title for the new training occupation, which is to enter into force on 1 August 2013 or 2014, is "Office management clerk". The setting of such a schedule ensures that the quality of the work carried out by the experts and the subsequent extensive reorganisation of training courses in companies and schools will not be adversely affected by time pressures.
"In bringing together office occupations which were previously separate in order to form a new standardised occupation offering opportunities to provide differentiation in the office sector, we are creating attractive, clearly structured and modern provision for a range of branches", emphasises BIBB President Friedrich Hubert Esser. "Broadly based occupations which enable differentiation to take place increase flexibility on the labour market for both sides. In addition to this, such occupations are easier to organise within the dual system than large numbers of small niche organisations in times where the numbers of school leavers are falling. This particularly applies to vocational school teaching." Professor Esser stated that for this reason BIBB would also focus more closely in future on pursuing the development of occupational families or groups. "This involves establishing a relationship between different occupations with the same or similar training contents in order to achieve synergy effects in the way in which training is conducted. Such an approach will improve horizontal permeability between occupations, including the gaining of new interface qualifications."
An evaluation carried out By BIBB led to an early identification of the need for change to office occupations, which date from the early 1990's in their present form, and proposals were made to VET practice. The social partners have now reached agreement with the relevant federal ministries on the major benchmarks of the training. The new occupational profile is characterised by office and business processes which are supplemented by at least two elective qualifications each of a minimum of five months' duration. The elective qualifications which trainees choose not to pursue will also in all cases be able to be taught and examined as additional qualifications. The plan is for the final examination to take place in "extended" form over a period of two days. The experts involved are currently working on the details.
In a parallel process, the Conference of the Ministers of Education and Cultural Affairs will draw up a new skeleton curriculum for the school-based element of training. This will create a new pedagogical basis which is more employability skills oriented than the previous subject-based approach.
Following the updating procedure, BIBB will make extensive information available to assist in implementation process in order to support training staff in the planning and execution of the new training.
The occupational profile will also be translated into English and French in a EUROPASS Certificate Supplement for the purpose of increasing the mobility of the employees.
Contact partners at BIBB:
Martin Elsner; e-mail: elsner@bibb.de
Dr. Franz Kaiser; e-mail: kaiser@bibb.de
BIBB has set up a (German language) website to provide ongoing documentation and information on the latest status of the procedure at: www.bibb.de/neuordnung-bueroberufe .
Picture material is available at www.bibb.de/pressefotos.
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