News about VET from Germany

Alliance for Initial and Continuing Training takes positive stock and adopts main work focuses aimed at achieving a strong system of vocational education and training

The second cohort to attend the "vocational school plus" programme at Main-Spessart Vocational School in Lohr and the third group to complete special technician training at the same institution have both now completed their courses of study, cramming hard and sitting in the classroom whilst friends and acquaintances from amongst their contemporaries were already earning money and enjoying a normal end to the working day.

Vocational Education and Training (VET) plays a very important role in the different European educational systems. Initial and continuing VET share the dual objective of contributing to employability and economic growth and responding to broader societal challenges, in particular promoting social cohesion.

Nigerian industry has launched dual vocational training programmes with support from German business partners. With great success: trainees who complete the programmes are guaranteed a job.

When coming to landlocked Laos, you probably would not expect to meet Laotians who speak German – but quite a few do! You may not know that Germany and Laos have had a long-lasting relationship: in 2016 the Lao-German Friendship Association celebrated the 58th anniversary of diplomatic relations between both countries since 1958.

It was not a coincidence that this year's eLearning Africa was held under the patronage of the German Federal Minister for Economic Cooperation and Development, Dr. Gerd Müller. 2016 is the year of digital education in Germany! This year, the German Government has declared digital education a priority of its national Digital Agenda. German Development Cooperation has also recognized the high potential of information and communications technology (ICT) particularly for improving access to quality education for refugees.

Over the course of the past few weeks, 6,856 trainees have sat final examinations set by the North Rhine-Westphalia Chamber of Commerce and Industry. 93 percent of candidates were successful, and seven percent even achieved the top mark of "very good".

The "EuroSkills" Championships will take place in Göteborg in Sweden from 1 to 4 December 2016. Half of the 22 young skilled workers representing Germany in 16 individual disciplines and three team competitions are from the craft trades sector. Hans Peter Wollseifer, President of the German Confederation of Skilled Crafts (ZDH), stated: "Our young skilled workers prove their great abilities to the customers they serve on a daily basis. We now wish them every success in the forthcoming competition."

The terms Industry 4.0 and Smart Factories signify a profound shift in the economy that will permanently change the world of work. Read an article by iMOVE how these requirements alter the methods used in the transfer of expertise in turn.