Bundesinstitut für Berufsbildung (BIBB)

Bachelor degrees and vocational education and training

What changes have been brought about by the introduction of Bachelor courses of study to the education and qualifications system? Are the new vocationally based higher education courses of study in competition with initial and advanced vocational education and training or do they provide an opportunity to exploit synergies? The 2/2010 issue of BWP addresses both these and other topics as it presents initial academic research findings, conceptual considerations and practical examples within its main thematic focus of "Bachelor degrees and vocational education and training".

In his editorial to the present issue, BIBB Director of Research Professor Reinhold Weiß makes it clear that vocational and Bachelor qualifications have much more of a complementary relationship than a competitive rivalry. Practical examples presented from both a institute of higher education and company point of view provide ideas on how academic and vocationally practical learning can be combined in a beneficial manner are also contained.