News about VET from Germany

Whilst some sectors are desperately seeking to recruit trainees, other branches are experiencing an oversupply. The biggest problem, however, is companies which do not provide training and do not offer permanent employment to qualified journeymen. Berlin has a shortage of apprenticeships, whilst Bavaria lacks applicants. Despite record levels of employment, less and less training is taking place. We take a look at the figures shortly after the beginning of the new training year.

"Let's just get on with it" seemed to be the name of the game at this year's "Day of the Craft Trades". Indeed, this was precisely the attitude adopted by Thomas Janowski when he embarked upon his own master craftsman training. He normally has lessons on Saturdays for this reason. This week, however, he is spending the day with his colleague Johannes Oks. The two are at the "Famila" Shopping Centre in Wecloy, constructing a stand at which workshop instructor Gerhard Hickl will demonstrate the skills which a joiner needs to master.

At least tongue-in-cheek, Philip Eppler is prepared to admit that the fact his employer is the main sponsor of his favourite club Borussia Dortmund was very much the icing on the cake when it came to his decision to join the company. "The main thing, however, is that Evonik is a company with operations all over the world. It can guarantee me good training in my chosen occupation in the chemical industry and also offer plenty of interesting opportunities for advancement and continuing education and training."

The State Government has joined forces with representatives from the employers' trade and industry associations and the Federal Employment Agency to sign a "Pact for Vocational Education and Training". This initiative is intended to build upon the "Alliance for strong vocational education and training in Bavaria", which was originally established in 2014.

Federal funding for best-performing trainees.

Positive evaluation of indicators relating to vocational education and training.

HIBB and Chamber of Commerce to present first certificates for stays abroad.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel's Special Representative for Africa was in Mauritius for the eLearning Africa conference, where he revealed the scale of German support for digital education. Chancellor Merkel has long believed in the importance of technology in education-based development aid for Africa, but the increased scale of German involvement was only made clear at eLearning Africa.

In an article in the renowned Wall Street Journal of 8 September 2016 ("Germany offers a promising jobs model"), the American labour market economist Edward Lazear and the IAB researcher Simon Janssen recommend that the US introduce a dual vocational training system following the German example. The US economist Erik A. Hanushek clearly objected to this in another article in the Wall Street Journal ("German-Style Apprenticeships Simply Can't Be Replicated"). Reason enough for the editorial team of IAB-Forum to inquire with Simon Janssen.