iMOVE: What is the name and background of your organisation?
Schott: The Internationaler Bund (IB - International Confederation) is one of the major providers of youth, social and educational work in Germany. More than 10,000 employees in 700 institutions at 300 sites provide support for well over 350,000 young people and adults each year.
iMOVE: Which services in the field of vocational education and training do you offer?
Schott: The adoption of social responsibility and social commitment are integral parts of our entrepreneurial approach since our founding in 1949. We are especially committed to modern vocational education and training and the competent management of social care. We aim at achieving better prospects and equal opportunities for all young people in education and on the job market as well as cultivating social commitment, social integration and solidarity.
iMOVE: What are your international business experiences?
Schott: The IB is active on an international level with professional training service propositions in Poland and Turkey, amongst other countries. It maintains a representation office in the Ukraine and another one in Beijing.
iMOVE: Which key service do you have on offer for a successful cooperation with international partners?
Schott: The IB is involved in the planning, building and commissioning of a residential complex for senior citizens in Qingdao in cooperation with a Chinese investor and a well-established German firm of architects. The complex is scheduled to be finished by the end of 2012. The planned residential complex with more than 200 residential and care units provides a diversified range of health and wellness services including a broad range of special care propositions.
This flexibility in the structure of the service provision, based on the high level of German standards of quality, allows the residents to lead a largely self-determined life by requesting help only depending on their respective situation and individual requirements. The IB is responsible for planning the overall concept and providing expert advice during the building and furnishing phases. Further tasks allocated to the IB include management training for the management staff and training for the geriatric care staff. After completion, experts from the IB will continue to support the Chinese in managing the retirement home for a minimum of one year.
