Learning abroad: Current status and prospects for cross-border mobility

In Germany there is a broad consensus among the partners involved regarding stays abroad during the individual's vocational training. Stays abroad are considered the ideal way to acquire the international occupational competence which is needed for many jobs today.

Despite the importance attached to stays abroad, it had not however been known to date how many persons undergoing initial vocational training complete a phase of their learning in another country per year. A study conducted on behalf of the Education for Europe - National Agency (NA) at BIBB examined this question.

The Mobility Study commissioned by the Education for Europe - National Agency (NA) at the Institute for Vocational Education and Training (BIBB) showed that during the period from 2007 to 2009 an average of 23,500 persons a year completed a stay abroad. This is 50 per cent more than previously assumed and represents three per cent of all persons undergoing initial vocational training.

Titled "Hidden Mobility in Vocational Education and Training", the study 'revealed' first and foremost that 39 per cent of all stays abroad undertaken during the individual's initial vocational training (8,900 persons) each year are undertaken without any financial assistance from the public sector. Thus the level of cross-border mobility during initial vocational training is much higher than was previously assumed.

Ninety per cent of the stays abroad are undertaken in Europe. The major European and national funding programmes are limited to this region. Consequently, at ten per cent, extra-European mobility is surprisingly high. The USA accounts for four per cent, making it the seventh most important destination country. Thus, one of the first key findings from the study is that stays abroad undertaken during initial vocational training are more common, longer, more global and more 'dual' than was previously assumed, even by the National Agency at BIBB.

From the participants' point of view, the greatest benefit from mobility arises in those areas which entail personal, social, foreign-language and professional skills. In addition, participants expect a stay abroad to improve their chances when seeking employment in the future.

The company survey conducted as part of the study showed that only some seven per cent of the companies surveyed send trainees abroad on a regular or intermittent basis. Based on the responses of the 785 participating enterprises, it can be expected that this figure will rise in the coming years.

The level of mobility among trainees in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) is surprisingly high. Sixty-nine per cent of mobile trainees come from enterprises with fewer than 500 employees. Although such enterprises seldom conduct projects themselves, many trainees from SMEs make use of offerings organised through schools or chambers.

Fundamental factors currently favour the growth and progressive development of mobility. Increasing globalisation leads to concrete changes in the workplace which require workers to have undergone vocational training. Enterprises and vocational schools are responding to this and are increasingly integrating instruction in international competences into the training they provide. Enterprises are also incorporating learning phases abroad into the in-company vocational training they provide in order to make it more attractive - a trend which will grow due to the demographics-driven decline in the number of training place applicants.