News about VET from Germany

Playing is learning - this applies also to vocational students. Since 2009, the Ministry of Economics of the Federal State of Rhineland-Palatinate funds simulation games at vocational schools. The games help the young people to test their abilities in managing an enterprise.

From the very beginning, an apprentice has certain rights and responsibilities within the business he trains in. These are even put down by law: In the Vocational Training Act (Berufsbildungsgesetz BBiG) or in the Youth Employment Protection Act (Jugendarbeitsschutzgesetz) as well as in individual vocational education and training ordinances.

The information pages of the "Recognition in Germany" portal give access to the most important information on the recognition procedure, on working in Germany, and on the legal foundations.

Over the period of the next six months, three "Infomobiles" will be travelling all across Germany to provide information as regards the opportunities provided by vocational training and continuing education.

An A in the exam or winning a competition: The continuing education scholarship is made for the best young talents of a profession. Those applying successfully have at their disposal thousands of euros for seminars, courses and continuing education measures.

The Parliamentary State Secretary to the Federal Minister of Economics and Technology and Federal Government Commissioner for Small and Medium-Sized Businesses and Tourism, Ernst Burgbacher, inaugurated the new Singen-based Academy of Education of the Chamber of Crafts Konstanz, together with Peter Friedrich, Baden-Württemberg Minister for Europe.

The crafts may well be regarded as one of the most important stakeholders for the successful transformation of the energy supply system.

Youth unemployment in Spain is at 46 per cent, in Italy at roughly 30 per cent. Alarming numbers, prompting the labour ministers of the G20 countries in 2011 to present a catalogue for combatting youth unemployment.

The European Agenda for Adult Learning emphasises the role of adult learning as a strong link in the chain of lifelong learning.