Vocational education and training partnership in South Africa bears fruit

Vocational education and Training (VET) partnership is a constant reminder of the value of dual vocational education and training in Germany.

The vocational education and training partnership between the Steinfurt-Warendorf District Craft Trades Association and the Umfolozi College in Richards Bay in South Africa is beginning to bear fruit. The training capacities of the latter have improved, and cooperation between the college and the private sector economy in South Africa is gathering steam. Umfolozi College will soon launch its own business start-up centre in order to open up new opportunities for well-trained young people in a region which is still economically weak.

A delegation from South Africa paid a visit to the Steinfurt-Warendorf District Craft Trades Association in order to gather information on successful routes into self-employment. Both sides have maintained an education and training partnership since November 2015. This project is funded by the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ).

"Our guests were on a fact-finding mission to explore the kind of support necessary for successful business start-ups," explained Karin Münstermann, Head of International VET at the Steinfurt-Warendorf District Craft Trades Association.

Against this background, the members of the delegation undertook a close scrutiny of aspects such as the master craftsman qualification and the start-up centres which exist within this region. The guests joined representatives from the district craft trades association on a visit to the Steinfurt Business Development Agency (WESt), where start-up advisor Helga Reckenfelderbäumer provided an insight into the seminars and consultancy services available to budding entrepreneurs. Ms. Reckenfelderbäumer also explained the assistance these young people received in setting up their own companies. Lena Kempf, who has used an original business idea to establish her own balloons firm, gave the guests a first-hand account of her practical experiences.

"The VET partnership projects that we conduct abroad constantly are a constant reminder of the value of dual vocational education and training in Germany," says Frank Tischner, Chief Executive of the Steinfurt-Warendorf District Craft Trades Association. "Other nations envy this system, which has developed into a strong backbone for trade and industry."