Doubly profitable – infrastructure projects with a training component

Acquirers of innovative technology derive a dual benefit if they are also able to secure appropriate training for their own staff. For this reason, invitations to tender which stipulate the combined import of goods and training services have greater chances of success from the very outset.

There is increasing demand amongst the international customers of German industry for the combined acquisition of high-quality technology and coordinated professional training. The double benefit derived by buyers of German infrastructure projects that include integrated training components secures significant (competitive) advantages for such customers.

Siemens, for example, recently succeeded in outdoing the US group GE in the tendering process for three gas turbine power stations. In its bid, Siemens included training for local staff at the "Kraftwerkschule", a specialist German provider which offers training to power plant workers. This all-in offer was enough to convince the purchaser.

Trade volume between Germany and the Arab countries more than doubled between 2004 and 2015. Extensive infrastructure projects are being planned in numerous countries within the region over the coming years, and the intention is to put these out to international tender. Electricity, water, sewage and "smart cities" are, for example, all areas in which there is extensive and urgent accumulated demand that needs to be met as quickly as possible whilst still ensuring a sustainable solution.

Consideration of initial and continuing training for local skilled workers at the tendering stage and the regular inclusion of relevant clauses in the specifications improves a project's chances of success enormously and in the long term. This is all the more so if training for trainers is stipulated alongside that of the staff. Training providers can be involved in the tendering process in an advisory role at an early stage and are able to define which skills are required in planned projects whilst the development phase is still ongoing.

There are around 25,000 providers of initial and continuing vocational training in Germany. The range of their services includes craft trades, commercial, technical and medical training provision, occupationally-related advanced training in the field of management and also extends to encompass e-learning software and other teaching and learning tools. Business-related training areas are a particular strength of German providers.

Germany's export power in the field of education and training goes hand in hand with the generally strong international market position occupied by German trade and industry. The world-renowned quality label "Made in Germany" also creates traction for German training exports. Today, initial and continuing training provision, product training programmes and consultancy services are integral components of Germany's significant worldwide export of goods in many areas. German exports of goods and training services thus support and strengthen each other.

German providers of initial and continuing vocational training services in particular are able to offer high-quality programmes and products that are in line with the needs of market. When entering a market and in realising and implementing their training services, they successfully rely on a range of concepts and models that are tailored to the special requirements of the customers. Depending on requirements, German providers offer support with the appropriate equipping of training institutes, with modern curricula, with inter-company training, examination standards that are aligned to the occupational concept, and with vocational teaching qualifications for teaching and training staff.

iMOVE is the training export initiative of the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF). In Germany, it specialises in the precise identification of training partners for the German export industry, as well as directly for interested international parties. Kristine Schinkmann, who acts as iMOVE's VET Export Advisor for the Arab countries, especially recommends use of the cooperation exchange and the provider pool on the iMOVE Internet portal.

She advises: "Publish your requests with us and obtain information about the service profiles of over 200 German training companies. We are also happy to provide you with personal guidance. Do not miss out on the expertise that the German education and training sector is able to offer."

The high quality of vocational education and training in Germany is not least reflected in the high quality of German products, which enjoy a high degree of esteem worldwide. Innovative goods, state-of-the-art technologies and the results of solid and high-class craftsmanship that offer a high degree of precision and a long product life all have their price. However, in light of the the reliable contribution made to a significant increase in productivity, it is a price that is well worth paying.

Nevertheless, high-quality industrial exports necessarily require the existence of well-trained skilled workers abroad. Qualified staff play an important role both in the development and production of machines and in the operation and maintenance of such equipment. The long-term retention of a high level of productivity can only be guaranteed if there are well-trained specialist workers at the production facilities where the plants are deployed.

Qualified employees are considered to be an important location factor in Germany. The current requirements of trade and industry are key drivers for the way in which the various occupations are structured and for their training content.

The German system of dual vocational education and training combines company-based and school-based learning and is regarded as a successful model all over the world. This dual training approach is more attractive than ever in the light of international high youth unemployment rates and an increasing shortage of skilled workers. "Work-based learning" is a practical form of initial and continuing training for the acquisition of employability skills that is gaining more and more interest, supporters and even customers all over the world.

Vocational education and training is particularly closely linked with industry because the companies represent a major learning venue. A significant part of learning takes place via real company-based work processes. Learning outcomes are also directly utilised in industrial procedures and exert a direct influence on productivity. This means that vocational education and training is integrated into the value creation process of the companies. Economic analyses prove that company involvement in the training of young people pays off at an early stage, long before the training itself is concluded. For this reason, numerous companies in Germany are only too happy to invest in the future in this way.

 

• Author: Silvia Niediek, iMOVE