Bundesinstitut für Berufsbildung (BIBB)

Demography and region

31 March 2014

The consequences of demographic change are being felt to very different degrees from one region of Germany to another, and are already leading to shortages of skilled workers in some occupational fields.
Not just policymakers but particularly also companies and educational establishments are called upon to find innovative strategies to address these sometimes radical changes. In support of this, the current issue of BWP (Vocational Training in Research and Practice) presents research findings and practical approaches which are equally important to companies, education and training providers and regional networks.

BWP 2/2014: Demography and region

BIBB Congress 2014

25 March 2014

The BIBB Congress 2014 will be staged under the motto: "Structuring vocational education and training in a more attractive way - facilitating greater permeability" in Berlin on September 18th/19th. The Congress will offer representatives of policy making, academic research and VET practice a platform for debate and for working together to find answers to the urgent issues facing vocational education and training today.
There will be a special international forum called "Pathways to an attractive VET system - learning from international experience" which will deal with the internationalisation of vocational education and training. It aims to present and discuss the challenges of increasing or securing attractiveness from the perspective of various vocational education and training systems and their stakeholders.

Further information and online registration

Development of the German labour market: Shortages in the medium qualifications area will persist despite increased immigration

18 March 2014

The latest issue of BIBB REPORT provides an overview of the expected development of the German labour market up until the year 2030. It is revealed that shortages in the medium qualifications area will persist despite the fact that increased immigration has been taken into account. Shortages are expected in this area from the mid-2020's. At the same time under-employment of persons without a vocational education and training qualification will climb to about 1.2 million by 2030. In the tertiary area supply will, in contrast to the other qualification areas, expand. The cause of this development is the strong propensity of young people to seek to enter higher education. This are the latest results from the Federal Institute for Vocational Education and Training (BIBB) and Institute for Employment Research (IAB) qualifications and occupational field projections up until the year 2030 taking wage developments and occupational flexibility into account.

BIBB Report 23/2014: "Shortages in the medium qualifications area despite increased immigration"

GOVET - the new brand name for German vocational education and training cooperation abroad

17 February 2014

Germany's international vocational education and training cooperation has a new brand name: GOVET - "German Office for International Cooperation in Vocational Education and Training".
GOVET is an essential component of the strategy of the Federal Government to move towards greater cohesion in international vocational education and training cooperation by delivering services from a single source, which was adopted by the Federal Cabinet under the lead management of the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) last year. GOVET will provide specialist support to the Federal Government and act as the main VET cooperation partner for national and international stakeholders.

Further information

Vocational Orientation

10 February 2014

Vocational orientation is aimed at supporting young people in identifying their own strengths and interests and developing career perspectives, with a view to easing their transition from school into work. But which forms of guidance and support do young people want during this phase, and do existing forms of provision offer the right kind of help?
The current issue of BWP (Vocational Training in Research and Practice) takes up these questions and presents relevant academic research findings and practical experience - all in a new layout.

BWP 1/2014: Vocational Orientation

Training Allowance Database

06 February 2014

© fotolia_XS

Training allowances based on collective wage agreements 2013 - a clear increase in West and East Germany once again

In 2013, training allowances based on collective wage agreements once again rose significantly compared to the previous year. The average training allowance based on collective wage agreements for the whole of the Federal Republic of Germany in 2013 was €761 per month, an increase of 4.2 % compared to 2012.
These results were arrived at by the Federal Institute for Vocational Education and Training (BIBB) in its 2013 evaluation of training allowances based on collective wage agreements. Average remunerations were calculated for 184 occupations in West Germany and 152 occupations in East Germany. 88% of trainees are trained in these occupations.

Further Information

Recognition Act produces positive results

14 January 2014

Majority of foreign qualifications accorded equivalence

The recognition of foreign professional and vocational qualifications is an important building block for participation in working life by migrants. More than half of all the migrants living in Germany, who number just under 11 million, are in possession of such qualifications. One of the purposes of the Recognition Act, which entered into force in 2012, is to tap into these areas of occupational potential. Initial evaluations show that up until now it has been possible to grant full or partial equivalence with the respective German reference occupation in a majority of cases. BIBB is the publisher of "Recognition in Germany", the official information portal of the Federal Government for the recognition of foreign professional and vocational qualifications.

Further information: International Migrants Day

International BIBB Conference: Work-based Learning in Europe - renewing traditions

04 December 2013

4 and 5 December 2013 at the Federal Institute for Vocational Education and Training (BIBB) in Bonn

The model of dual vocational education and training is currently attracting considerable attention. Demand is rising worldwide, and there has been a strong increase in the amount of media reporting. The main factors driving public attention are the high rates of youth unemployment in some European countries and fears of an impending shortage of skilled workers. On the basis of the way in which it links learning and work and schools and companies, the dual training system in Germany appears to be a successful model for the structuring of the transition from school to working life.

International BIBB Conference: Work-based Learning in Europe - renewing traditions

5th Arab-German Education and Vocational Training Forum

31 December 2011

Platform for international exchange in partnership

For the fifth time, from 20th to 21st November 2013, the Arab-German Education Forum in Berlin presented successful examples of bilateral co-operation in the field of education.
Once again, the event organised by iMOVE, Ghorfa and the Didacta Association under the auspices of the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research provided the ideal platform for the international exchange in partnership regarding all questions ranging from support and encouragement in early childhood to university education.
Again, the main attraction of the Education Forum was vocational training and continuing education, which in many countries is perceived as a central instrument in solving the most pressing employment problems. The discussion focused in particular on the change regarding the social status of vocational education and training, the necessity of attractive income levels, the combination of vocational training and employment and impediments in vocational education and training for women.

Read more: 5th Arab-German Education and Vocational Training Forum

New technologies and sustainable development

02 December 2013

BWP 6/2013 now available

Skilled workers with good vocational training are a decisive factor for the sustainable diffusion of new technologies. But how are research and development findings transmitted to companies and taken into their employees' thinking?
The current issue of "Berufsbildung in Wissenschaft und Praxis - BWP" (Vocational Training in Research and Practice) pursues this question and points out challenges for the early identification of qualification needs and qualification trends in vocational education.

BWB 6/2013: New technologies and sustainable development

International BIBB Conference

16 October 2013

Work-based Learning in Europe - renewing traditions

The model of dual vocational education and training is currently attracting considerable attention. Demand is rising worldwide, and there has been a strong increase in the amount of media reporting. The main factors driving public attention are the high rates of youth unemployment in some European countries and fears of an impending shortage of skilled workers.
The international BIBB Conference "Work-based Learning in Europe - renewing traditions" on 4 and 5 December 2013 in Bonn will be a joint event with European partners to address various "work-based learning" models such as "apprenticeship" and "alternance", to discuss the associated consequences for the role and responsibility of the stakeholders involved (the state, companies, trade unions, learners) and to identify joint elements of various models of "work-based learning".The conference is aimed at a specialist target audience, in particular VET experts and practitioners from different countries. It aims to make a contribution towards the joint identification of "best fit" solutions for the structuring of "work-based learning" in vocational education and training.

The conference is fully closed. Additional Applications are no longer possible.

International BIBB Conference

Training of skilled workers worldwide

07 October 2013

BWP 5/2013 now available

India, China, Russia, the United States, Mexico, and Egypt - the contributions in the current issue of BWP give insights into skills training concepts and activities in those countries. They deal with, among other questions, whether and how elements of the dual system of education and training can be transferred.

BWB 5/2013: Training of skilled workers worldwide

Official launch of the new Central Office at BIBB

16 September 2013

State Secretary Quennet-Thielen and BIBB-President Esser

President Esser: "BIBB is opening up a new chapter in international vocational education and training cooperation"

The Central Office for International Vocational Education and Training Cooperation at the Federal Institute for Vocational Education and Training (BIBB) has begun its work. For BIBB President Friedrich Hubert Esser, this "opens up a new chapter in international vocational education and training cooperation". Speaking at the contract signing ceremony at the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF), which is responsible for the Central Office, Professor Esser said: "Interest in dual vocational education and training 'Made in Germany' is huge right across the world. The new Central Office at BIBB will serve as a competent platform for the exchange of information with immediate effect and is a logical consequence of rising international demand for the German VET system."

Central Office for International Vocational Education and Training Cooperation

BIBB-Press release

Attractiveness of vocational education

05 August 2013

BWP 4/2013 now available

Dual vocational education and training is regarded internationally as an extremely successful training model. Just what makes the system so attractive and how can it be further fostered? The papers included in the latest issue of "Vocational Training in Research and Practice" (BWP) address this question from the point of view of trainees and companies and within an international context.

A special supplement on the VET policy positions adopted with regard to the German General Election of 2013 is also provided and is available for download free of charge.

BWP 4/2013: Attractiveness of vocational education

Qualification for gainful employment as initial vocational education and training

10 July 2013

Will this remain the ultimate solution?

There is a growing interest in models of dual and alternating initial vocational education and training in view of the high youth unemployment rates in the southern EU Member States. Referring to the newly formulated EU strategy in the field of vocational training policy, however, the author warns against attempting to solve social problems in the short term by transferring the German initial training model. It becomes clear in the historical perspective that this particular arrangement has developed over many years and has entered in the course of time into highly complex interrelations with numerous other social subsystems. Despite the many benefits of the cooperative training system, the author concludes by pointing out that, even in Germany, the problems of youth unemployment and social integration of young people have not been fully solved yet and states the need for reforms.

Qualification for gainful employment as initial vocational education and training

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