President
Professor Dr Friedrich Hubert Esser became president of the Federal Institute for Vocational Education and Training (BIBB) in Bonn as of 1 May 2011.
Professor Dr Friedrich Hubert Esser was born in Grevenbroich in 1959. After completing an apprenticeship in the baker's trade in Grevenbroich, Professor Esser continued his education via the "second educational pathway" at the Friedrich-Spee-Kolleg in Neuss where he earned an upper secondary school leaving certificate which qualifies the holder to enter university. In the years from 1983 to 1989, he first studied economics at the Braunschweig Technical University and then business administration and economic and business education at the University of Cologne.
In 1989, Professor Esser began his career with a job as a research associate for the Chair for Economic and Business Education at the University of Cologne.
Two years later, the married father of two switched to the Research Institute for Vocational Education and Training in the Crafts Sector of the University of Cologne (FBH) where he was employed in various positions for 13 years: initially as a research associate, then as managing director starting 1998 and finally as deputy director starting 2003.
On 1 November 2004, Professor Esser became head of the Vocational Education and Training Department at the German Confederation of Skilled Crafts (ZDH) in Berlin where he remained until he assumed office as president of BIBB.
His knowledge and expertise as a proven, dedicated VET expert have been in demand time and again in numerous bodies and committees. Professor Esser has been a member of the BIBB Board since 2005, head of the European Vocational Education and Training task force of the German Employers' Organisation for Vocational and Further Training (KWB) since 2005 as well, and since 2007 a member of the GQR Working Group set up by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research and the Standing Conference of the Ministers of Education and Cultural Affairs of the Länder in the Federal Republic of Germany. In addition, in 2007 and 2008 he belonged to the Committee on Innovation in Continuing Training (IKWB) which was set up by Minister Schavan.
Main areas of focus in Professor Dr Esser's work and research:
- Occupational and qualifications research
- German Qualifications Framework (GQF) and European Qualifications Framework (EQF)
- European vocational education and training
- Entrepreneurship
