Print version Recommend this page Press release
30/ 2003
Bonn, 14.08.2003
Inter-company vocational training centres - well equipped for their transformation into centres of competence
In view of the dynamic development of initial and continuing vocational training, inter-company vocational training centres have to create a new profile if they are to perform in full their function as vocational training sites and the "extended workbench of companies which provide training" in the future. To achieve this, the inter-company vocational training centres with a high level of technical competence, must be transformed into education and training centres, which in addition to technical competence also have additional skills when it comes to promoting and improving vocational training. As "centres of competence" they have to offer learning environments which support a modern, action-oriented vocational training sector competent in media and cooperation. They must be able to compare experience with one another, assign training staff which in addition to being qualified in vocational teaching also possess technical and methodological skills, professionalize their vocational training centre management and finally develop marketing strategies which promote their capabilities.
A national representative survey carried out by the Federal Institute for Vocational Training (BIBB) in all the crafts districts 01 demonstrates that the inter-company vocational training centres possess excellent capabilities at present to develop into centres of competence. The objective in the survey was to take a snap-shot of the current situation in vocational education and the framework conditions prevailing at the inter-company vocational training centres. Findings on the specific vocational education development needs and the prospects for inter-company training in the crafts were generated in this manner. A total of 5,000 persons active in the field of vocational training were surveyed: trainers at businesses in the crafts trades, trainees, teachers at inter-company vocational training centres, managers at inter-company vocational training centres and teachers at vocational schools in the five crafts of bricklayers, automobile mechanic, electrician, carpenter and gas/water installers.
In sum, the study produced the following findings:
- The importance of inter-company vocational training centres in complementing crafts training goes without question to the majority of trainers in crafts: almost two-thirds of companies deem it to be "important" or "very important", and every other company assesses the quality of training at inter-company vocational training centres as "good" or excellent". Nevertheless, the need for change was also stressed in the survey. The companies view the greatest need for change to be in the conveyance of competence in acting autonomously, flexibilisation and updating of learning content (e.g. providing additional qualifications) and basing the content on real-life work in the field of practice. In addition, the persons surveyed voiced a preference for "more open" curricula and their rapid adjustment to conform to trends in technology and work organisation at companies.
- Most trainees consider the overwhelming majority of curricula at inter-company vocational training centres to constitute an important element in their training, assigning a mark of "A" or "B" to what they learn there. But these centres also need to undergo change: A desire was stated for innovative group and action-oriented training methods and more frequent use of IT technologies.
- Teachers at inter-company vocational training centres are for the most part satisfied with the technical and educational framework conditions there, but - like the trainees - see a clear need for adaptation in the area of training methods and a need to catch up in the area of IT technologies. Three-fourths of all teachers would like to exchange ideas with teachers at vocational schools and view the Internet as a new possibility to improve cooperation in the field of education.
- Directors of inter-company vocational training centres believe that they will have to increasingly act as managers in the future. They articulate their most pressing needs for continuing training to be in the management and marketing area along with the field of new technologies. In addition to this, they would like to see more intensive cooperation and networking between learning sites. They are of the opinion that a new market will evolve for shared vocational training centres in the area of additional qualifications in the future.
- A majority of vocational school teachers agree with the desire voiced by teachers at inter-company vocational training centres to increase cooperation between learning sites: 80% would like to see more intensive cooperation with other learning sites in order to strengthen practically-oriented training. On the basis of experience gained thus far, they also issued a plea for the creation of a special office to stimulate and support cooperation between learning sites. They also expressed a personal desire to gain more insight into work performed at other learning sites: more than 60% stated a desire to undergo continuing training at an inter-company vocational training centre or company.
An initial summary of the results of the BIBB research project entitled "Prospects of Complementary Inter-Company Training Measures for Training in the Crafts Trades with a Special Focus on Vocational Education Aspects", the questionnaire used in the study and the techniques developed in the project to "design and implement training measures at inter-company vocational training centres", which led to a recommendation being issued by the Standing Committee of BIBB on June 28, 2002 (BIBB press release 21/2002 dated July 3, 2002) can be found in the Internet at www.bibb.de/de/5267.htm
For additional information on the topic of "turning inter-company vocational training centres into centres of competence", see the PR material package entitled "Bedarfsgerechte Dienstleistungen für kleine und mittlere Unternehmen - Leitmotiv überbetrieblicher Berufsbildungsstätten (ÜBS) als Kompetenzzentren", available in the Internet at www.bibb.de/de/2549.htm
If you would like BIBB to provide you with more information, contact Dr. Bernhard Autsch, e-mail: autsch@bibb.de
