Pilot projects - instruments for innovation in vocational education and training

The extracurricular pilot projects which the German government supports on the basis of Section 90 (3) No. 1 d) of the Vocational Training Act are an instrument for the qualitative development of and research into initial and continuing vocational training. Pilot projects shape societal and company trends, address relevant topics and function as experimental laboratories for technical and occupational development and the acquisition of knowledge and information for use as examples in the design of overarching education policy initiatives.

Pilot projects involve interaction between practitioners, the research community and the political sector. Having societal actors participate in research and development processes fosters the development of realistic and transferable solutions and boosts acceptance of new models and findings. The systems that play a part in pilot projects function as participants, target groups and recipients.

The following three new pilot project funding priorities have been set up since the end of 2010:

Vocational Education for Sustainable Development

As part of the second half of the UN Decade of Education for Sustainable Development (2005-2014), The Federal Institute for Vocational Education and Training (BIBB) is supporting seven projects involving Vocational Education for Sustainable Development with funds from the Federal Ministry of Education and Research. The projects are based in the metal-working and electrical sectors (focus on renewable energy), housing and construction, chemicals and food.

In the area of renewable energy, the spectrum of topics ranges from "Fortbildungsgang zum /zur geprüften technischen Fachwirt/in - Erneuerbare Energien" (advanced vocational training programme for the occupation 'certified technical management specialist - renewable energies'), skills and competences needed for offshore wind energy plants, possible training needs in the skilled crafts with respect to renewable energies and electromobility all the way to training instruction personnel to serve as multipliers for the guiding principle of sustainable development in connection with production in the photovoltaic sector.

Outstanding vocational training skill centres in the construction industry develop and test learning modules that foster sustainable development in vocational education and training in the construction sector. Focus is placed on sustainable education careers in the chemical industry. In addition, a modular framework curriculum is being developed for systematic training for sustainable development in vocational education and training in the area of food/nutrition.

New Pathways to Dual Vocational Training - Heterogeneity as an Opportunity for Securing Skilled Labour

Many young people have enormous difficulties in the vocational training market. The chances of finding a training place for in-company vocational training are determined by a wide range of factors that are related to the individual's personal (educational) biography and that overlap or interact such as an immigrant background, age, personal problems, a more favourable or less favourable educational background, educational requirements for vocational training, and training measures that the individual has already completed.

At the same time however, small and medium-sized enterprises in particular bemoan the declining number of training place applicants and, in the enterprises' opinion, trainees who are not sufficiently qualified. Some enterprises already notice a shortage of skilled labour; an even larger number of enterprises however expects a shortage of skilled labour in the future.

This is where the funding priority New Pathways to Dual Vocational Training Heterogeneity as an Opportunity for Securing Skilled Labour comes in. Its aim is to point out innovative pathways to vocational training and foster them as models. In this connection, the increasing heterogeneity of today's youth is understood as a challenge and an opportunity. Transferable concepts, instruments and methods are to be developed and implemented with the aim of expanding the number of potential trainees and ensuring enough skilled workers to meet trade and industry's needs for skilled labour.

Following the public announcement of this funding priority, BIBB and the Federal Ministry of Education and Research selected 18 pilot projects from throughout the country which began their work in the spring of 2011 (funding period: 36 months). The projects focus on different questions and issues that pertain to the common theme. BIBB coordinates and links the pilot projects in cooperation with the flanking scientific evaluation and research being done and supports them in the achievement of their objectives.

The preparation of the funding priority was accompanied by an extensive research process which was designed and organised in the course of an intensive dialogue with experts from various areas in VET practice, the research community and the political sector.

Quality Development and Assurance in Initial and Continuing Vocational Training

It is vital that the quality of vocational training be continually developed and ensured, particularly in small and medium-sized enterprises. This task is the focus of ten pilot projects from throughout Germany which BIBB has assisted since the end of 2010. A total of €5 million in funding from the Federal Ministry of Education and Research will be made available for these projects in the coming years.
The aim of these pilot projects is to develop and test practicable instruments and procedures which enterprises and regional alliances and networks can use to ensure, evaluate and improve the quality of their vocational training processes. At the same time, this work will tie in with existing structures, processes and instruments and foster the transfer of tested solutions for their broad use.

Special priority areas for action and research are the development of instruments, communications and cooperation structures, and concepts for training instruction personnel. As a result of the participation of various sectors and actors such as the skilled crafts, care facilities for the elderly, educational institutions, and industrial firms, this pilot project funding priority has a broad basis and will ensure that the findings and results are transferred extensively. Flanking external scientific research and evaluation will be conducted to support the work of the project management organisation and the funding priority.