Be it a rhetoric seminar, Business English course or extra-occupational study course: Without regular continuing education, the job market offers only dim perspectives. Many employees therefore use the opportunities provided by adult education centres and private institutes to update their knowledge and competencies.
In 2012, according to numbers published by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF), about 42 per cent of employees participated in occupational continuing education programmes. This number has proven relatively stable over the course of the past few years.
On the whole, German employees favour short events, such as lectures, trainings, seminars or workshops. These account for 39 per cent of company training activities. Courses of instruction or seminars of several days duration account for 31 per cent. Trainings at the workplace, such as instruction provided by a superior or colleague, trainers or learning programmes, account for 29 per cent.
Politics, unions and industry associations all agree concerning the relevance of lifelong learning for the individual as well as for society and the economy. According to the BMBF, it ensures participation in society, maintains the employability of the population capable of gainful employment and improves the competitiveness of enterprises and the entire economy.
Continuing education increases career opportunities
Continuing education expert Knut Diekmann from the Association of German Chambers of Commerce and Industry (DIHK) says, "vocational education and training is very much like an 'entrance ticket' to the labour market. Continuing education increases the career opportunities." Here, it is evident that remuneration increases with the degree of educational qualifications. Unskilled and semi-skilled workers bear the greatest unemployment risk. "Yet at the same time, the following is true: Fewer and fewer people work in their original occupation throughout their career. We therefore need to remain mobile in our professional life."
Enterprises invest about 8.6 billion Euro per year in occupational continuing education (status 2010). According to a survey conducted by the DIHK in 2011, 38 per cent of polled enterprises want to further expand their training provision over the course of the next few years. This is a significantly higher number than in previous years. By providing continuing education for their employees, many companies intend to pre-empt the threat of skilled labour shortage and thus maintain their competitiveness.
According to Stephanie Odenwald, who heads the management board division Education and Continuing Education at theGewerkschaft Erziehung und Wissenschaft (GEW - Union for Education and Science), the globalisation imposes new challenges on employees. In many occupations, the command of foreign languages is indispensable. "This demand is reflected in the service proposition of the adult education centres. Over the course of the past few years, language courses have significantly increased", she says.