News about VET from Germany

During a recent visit of several days in Lörrach, the vocational school Gewerbeschule Lörrach and the Trakya University in Edirne, Turkey agreed to further intensify their cooperation.

With 570 apprenticeship placements and a range of occupational training and continuing education measures, the clinic is one of the largest providers of vocational training and education in the Swabian region.

Ernst Burgbacher, Parliamentary State Secretary at the German Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology and Federal Government Commissioner for SMEs and Tourism, has awarded the title of "Bundeslogo Kompetenzzentrum" to the Competence Centre for Technology and Innovation Management of the Upper Franconia Chamber of Crafts in Bayreuth.

What has been considered impossible for a long time, now is being established more and more worldwide: Together with international partners, vocational education scientists from Bremen University have developed a kind of vocational education "PISA".

In the coming year, the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research plans to invest more money in education and research. In 2013, approximately 1.85 billion Euro are to be allocated for the promotion of teaching and studying.

Over the course of the next few years, Rainer Stickelberger (SPD), Justice Minister of the Federal State of Baden-Württemberg, intends to improve the occupational opportunities for prison inmates.

At present, the continuing education industry does not feel the effects of the weak economic situation.

A new Cedefop study opens a discussion on international qualifications: what they are, how they are managed, and how they may affect national qualifications and standards as well as the common EU tools for vocational education and training.

Annually published by the OECD, "Education at a Glance" provides an international perspective on questions of educational policy. The results offer guidance in evaluating the development of Germany's education system and in the further development reform strategies.