Deputy Secretary General/Head of Research
Professor Reinhold Weiß has served the Federal Institute for Vocational Education and Training ("BIBB") as Deputy President and Head of Research since 1 September 2005.
Born in 1952, Professor Weiß studied economics, economic and social history, economic and business education theory and vocational education theory at the University of Cologne. After passing the state examination for qualification to teach at vocational schools and then earning his doctorate, he joined the Cologne-based Institut der deutschen Wirtschaft business research institute where he worked as a subject specialist for education policy issues and general education. Professor Weiß was subsequently appointed head of the Training Centre of the Chambers of Industry and Trade at the Wirtschaftsakademie Schleswig-Hostein business academy in 1986. He returned to the Institut der deutschen Wirtschaft in 1988 where he served first as head of the Continuing Training and Economics of Education section and later as deputy head of the Education Policy and Labour Market Policy research department and member of the Managing Board.
Professor Weiß's research work has revolved around continuing in-company vocational training and classroom-based continuing vocational training. He has also focused on issues in the areas of general education, initial vocational training, universities and the labour market, personnel development and continuing training, and the economics of education in his research work in numerous publications, advisory opinions, projects and pilot projects. He earned qualification as a professor for vocational education theory in 1996.
As a vocational training expert, Professor Weiß's knowledge has been in frequent demand in numerous advisory boards and committees. For example, he has been a member of the Committee of Education Experts at the Hans Böckler Foundation, the Vocational Training Committee of the Confederation of German Employers' Associations, and the Supervisory Committee for the Skill Development Learning Culture research and development programme conducted by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research.
In his work as a lecturer at the University of Trier, the University of Duisburg-Essen, the University of the Federal Armed Forces Hamburg and the University for Practical Business Studies Bergisch Gladbach, Professor Weiß has shared the knowledge he has gained as an expert in the vocational training field. He was made an honorary professor of the University of Duisburg-Essen in 2004.
Curriculum Vitae
Education and research qualifications:
- Studied economics, economic and social history, economic and business education theory and vocational education theory at the University of Cologne
- 1978 First state examination for qualification to teach at vocational schools
- 1981 Doctorate in political science (Dr. rer. pol.), University of Cologne
- 1996 Professorial qualification, Gerhard Mercator University / Duisburg Comprehensive University, qualification to teach vocational education theory at a university
- Lectureships at the University of Trier, the University of Duisburg-Essen and the University for Practical Business Studies Bergisch Gladbach
- Substitute lecturer at the University of the Federal Armed Forces Hamburg (industrial und vocational education theory)
- 2004 Honorary professor of the University of Duisburg-Essen
Professional experience:
- 1978 - 1981 Assistant to the Chair for Economic and Business Education Theory and Vocational Education Theory at the University of Cologne
- 1982 - 1986 Subject specialist at the Cologne-based Institut der deutschen Wirtschaft business research institute
- 1986 - 1988 Head of the Training Centre of the Chambers of Industry and Trade at the Wirtschaftsakademie Schleswig-Hostein business academy in Kiel
- 1988 - 1992 Head of the Education Economics and Continuing Training section of the Institut der deutschen Wirtschaft in Cologne
- 1992 - 2005 Deputy head of the Education Policy and Labour Market Policy research department of the Institut der deutschen Wirtschaft and member of the Institute's Managing Board
- Since September 2005 Deputy President and Head of Research of the Federal Institute for Vocational Education and Training
Focus of work:
Activities in the following representative areas in connection with work on advisory opinions, research projects and pilot projects
- Vocational training and qualifications/skills research
- Continuing vocational training and skills development in company change processes
- Cost and financing of vocational training
- long-term assessment of training programmes and the economics of education
- Foreign languages in initial and continuing vocational training
Participation in advisory councils and committees:
Participation as an education expert in numerous bodies including the following advisory councils and committees:
- Association for Research in Professional Development (ABWF)
- Advisory board, German Institute for Adult Education (DIE) *
- Committee of Education Experts at the Hans Böckler Foundation*
- Vocational Training Committee of the Confederation of German Employers' Associations (BDA)
- Supervisory Committee for the Skill Development Learning Culture research and development programme conducted by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research, and chairman of the Learning in the Work Process technical advisory committee
* No longer a member of this body
