Print version Recommend this page Press release
05/ 2004
Bonn, 09.02.2004
2004 Innovation in Continuing Education Prize
- BIBB honours five innovative concepts for continuing vocational education and training
This year for the fourth time, the Federal Institute for Vocational Training ("BIBB") awarded its Innovation in Continuing Education Prize ("WIP") to five training programmes in recognition of their innovative approaches to continuing vocational education and training. The award ceremony was held under the auspices of the minister-president of the state of North Rhine-Westphalia, Mr. Peer Steinbrück. The minister of economic and labour of the state of North Rhine-Westphalia, Mr. Harald Schartau, and the president of the Federal Institute for Vocational Training, Prof. Helmut Pütz, presented the 2004 WIP awards - which come with a total of € 12,500 in prize money - to the five honourees on February 9, 2004, at the didacta Trade Fair for Education and Training in Cologne.
The competition for the 2004 Innovation in Continuing Education Prize drew a total of 101 submissions. The jury selected the following five continuing vocational training schemes as being particularly innovative and forward-looking:
- Advanced Skills in Applied Analytics -A specialized training programme for technical laboratory assistants
Recipient: provadis Partner für Bildung und Beratung GmbH, Frankfurt am Main
The Advanced Skills in Applied Analytics continuing training programme targets chemical laboratory assistants who previously acquired in-depth knowledge in the field of analytics during their formal vocational training, have been able to expand this knowledge in the course of their employment to date and now want to acquire more advanced qualification. This targeted, 300-hour programme fills the gap between regular vocational training and existing "expert-level" seminars which participants find are too advanced for them because they don't have the specialized technical knowledge necessary for understanding the instruction material covered at them. This modular continuing education programme makes use of proven e-learning systems and teaches technical and general occupational skills (such as foreign languages, law, information management). It can also be expanded to include soft skills or subject matter that complement the participant's occupation. The programme has been set up in such a way that other educational institutions can grant credit for the examinations on a case-by-case basis, an arrangement that provides a bridge to courses of study that lead to a degree.
Contact: Mr. Norbert Burggraf, provadis Partner für Bildung und Beratung GmbH;
E-mail: norbert.burggraf@provadis.de; http://www.provadis.de - Foreign Trade and Advisors with Knowledge of Other Countries - Vocational training for immigrants
Recipient: Ländliche Erwachsenenbildung in Niedersachsen e.V. (LEB), Bildungsstätte Bad Zwischenahn
This continuing training programme is aimed at training individuals who have the requisite technical skills, foreign language proficiency, sound knowledge of other countries and international contacts for jobs in the import and export departments of larger companies or as consultants to smaller and medium-sized enterprises on matters involving foreign business relations. This programme makes special use of the intercultural skills that vocationally qualified immigrants have to offer. This 10-month course builds on the participants' foreign language proficiency and familiarity with the customs and mentality of the people in their native country and covers not only basic business subjects but also provides in-depth training in the area of foreign trade, German as a foreign language, general and business English, data processing, communications training and coaching for the job application process. Participants also receive the opportunity to put what they have learned to use under practical conditions during two four-week internships with potential employers.
Contact: Mr. Hans Deimann, Ländliche Erwachsenenbildung in Niedersachsen e.V. (LEB), Bildungsstätte Bad Zwischenahn; E-mail: h.deimann@leb.de; www.leb.de - CNC Training Campaign
Recipient: DMG Trainings-Akademie GmbH, Bielefeld
The CNC Training Campaign is aimed at unemployed skilled workers in the metal-processing or metal-working industry. Courses last from three to six months and are conducted using state-of-the-art equipment from the leading manufacturer Gildemeister. These courses focus on the programming and operation of different computerized numeric control (CNC) systems and the fundamentals of computer-aided design (CAD). The campaign's declared aim is to place participants in jobs following graduation. To accomplish this, the DMG Trainings-Akademie works closely together with Gildemeister's some 14,000 customers and suppliers. When, for example, a company needs skilled personnel after an upgrade of its CNC equipment, the DMG Trainings-Akademie offers training that is tailored to the particular industry, including instruction modules that are customized to meet the respective company's specific needs. Individuals who complete the course of training are then placed with participating companies.
Contact: Ms. Beate Maria Klein, DMG Trainings-Akademie GmbH;
E-mail: beate.klein@gildemeistercom; www.gildemeister.com - Additional Qualification as Energy Sector Clerk
Recipient: Bildungs- und Entwicklungszentrum der Stadtwerke Leipzig GmbH, Leipzig
The additional occupational qualification as "energy sector clerk" expands upon the industrial clerk vocational training programme that commercial trainees undergo in companies in the energy sector. Participating trainees start classes for this additional qualification during their second year of training. Organized in modules, this course of training is also used as further training for skilled workers and managers in the energy sector. Taught with an eye to competence, the six modules focus on subject matter that the liberalization of the international energy market has made necessary for persons working in this industry to know in order to ensure their full occupational competence but which had not been offered in the courses of vocational training offered to date. Experts from the respective corporate divisions are brought in as lecturers for this training. Their involvement ensures that the training is always geared to actual practice in its most up-to-date form and meets current training requirements.
Contact: Mr. André Minker, Bildungs- und Entwicklungszentrum der Stadtwerke Leipzig GmbH; E-mail: andre.minker@swl.de ; www.swl.de - Subject Instructor for Training Provided at External or Joint Training Centres
Recipient: Berufsförderungswerk Hamburg GmbH, Hamburg
The Subject Instructor continuing training course is aimed at professionalizing instruction personnel. The programme represents the first time that skilled instructors in companies, training centres, institutions or occupational rehabilitation facilities have ever been offered a course of training nationwide that leads to a recognized advanced further training certificate. Developed as upgrading training, the programme focuses on three areas: Firstly, the acquisition of basic teaching skills that span various areas of activity and are necessary for working in the field of external and joint training. Secondly, the acquisition of specialized skills required in the area of joint and external basic and continuing training. Thirdly, the acquisition or further development of vocational qualification in a selected field of activity, either "specific groups of persons" (such as disadvantaged youths, facilities such as rehabilitation centres) or "topics" (such as personnel or organization development).
Contact: Dr. Andreas Wohlfahrt, Berufsförderungswerk Hamburg GmbH;
E-mail: wohlfahrt@BFW-Hamburg.de ; www.bfw-hamburg.de
