Russian guests closely scrutinise the German vocational education and training system

How do vocational education and apprenticeship work in Germany? What can we in Russia learn from this model? These were the questions three teachers and five students from the partnering city of Novocherkassk brought with them on their two-week visit to Iserlohn.

Following an invitation by the partnership committee Iserlohn-Novocherkassk, the guests went to see a number of businesses. They visited the upper secondary vocational college on Hansaallee, the University of Applied Sciences Südwestfalen and the vocational education and training centre of the district craftsmen's association as well as the private university Business and Information Technology School (BiTS) on Seilersee lake.

The delegation proved to be particularly impressed by their visit to the firm of Serafini. According to owner Andreas Serafini, the metal industry family business, which supplies complete shop fittings and individually furnishes its customers' business premises, has been enjoying a continuous booming tendency for many years. It employs some 100 members of staff. Its key account customers include well-established companies such as BMW and Esprit.

The enterprise places particularly great attention on vocational education and training. To ensure its own future skilled labour supply, the firm of Serafini is innovative and successful in its endeavours to get young people interested in the range of apprenticeships it provides; one way of achieving this are close contacts with local schools. This is where Stefanie Serafini, the owner's wife, in particular invests great commitment. For instance, apprentices are invited to evening events involving joint cooking sessions and they organise summer parties together. Also, they are permitted to invite a pupil for one day to visit the enterprise with them and to show their guest their workplace without the permanent presence of an adult.

"This generates a feeling of solidarity and responsibility", said Stefani Serafini during a discussion with the Russian visitors. "The young people are being motivated and identify with the enterprise." This created such an impression with Galina Grigorjewa, the head of the Russian college, that she was prompted to ask whether she may send Russian interns to Serafini for work experience. The owner welcomed the idea; on the spot, two-week internships for three students were agreed on to take place in the coming year.