Cooperation with Colombian partner institution SENA
The National Vocational Training Service SENA (Servicio Nacional de Aprendizaje) and BIBB have been successfully cooperating on current VET topics since 2011.
The cooperation agreement is updated regularly (last time in June 2025). Currently, SENA and BIBB want to intensify their exchange and joint projects, particularly in the following areas:
- Challenges, strategies and best practices in dual VET
- VET research (including the further development of Colombian data reporting)
- Sustainable development in VET
- Technological and digital change
BIBB is also linked to SENA through the Alliance for dual VET in Latin America and the Caribbean. SENA is a founding member of this alliance, and BIBB supports and provides counselling to the alliance as a reference institution and member of the coordination group.
Areas of cooperation in recent years
- 2021/22: BMBF project: Exploring potential for developing and testing elements for the vocational training of skilled workers in the field of renewable energies in Colombia
- 2021: Trilateral workshop series with SENA, BIBB and INA (Costa Rica) to exchange experiences in the development and implementation of dual training concepts
- 2016: Establishment of a monitoring system for VET reporting (data reporting)
- 2016: Case study in the automotive sector on cost-benefit analysis and on the motivation and organisation of companies in VET
- 2012: Support in establishing the SENNOVA Centre for Research and Innovation at SENA
Who is SENA?
The Servicio Nacional de Aprendizaje (SENA) was founded in 1957 and is subordinate to the Colombian Ministry of Labour. With 32 regional offices, around 120 training centres and as Colombia's largest employer, SENA provides over eight million places in initial and continuing VET every year. SENA's training programmes reach around 80% of young people nationwide who decide to pursue training.
SENA's main tasks are
- the development, implementation and evaluation of VET programmes in Colombia,
- the (free) training and continuing training of skilled personnel,
- the provision of data, analyses and study results for educational policy decision-making processes, and
- the support of projects that promote Colombia's technical development and competitiveness.
The Colombian VET system is mainly financed by a company training levy and subsidies from the national budget.
(as of November 2025)
