topic Education

Fit for the future with training and a profession

Training is essential for our country's future. Training one's own staff is worth the effort. It is the best means for ensuring optimum preparation of future employees for their work in the company. The Federal Government is supporting the company's training activities with various measures.

Dual system

Anyone learning a trade in Germany usually does so under the dual system of vocational education and training. The system is called 'dual' because vocational training takes place both in the company and in part-time vocational school. The company provides the apprentice mostly with practical training. Part-time vocational school supplements company-based training by theoretical instruction. The system is based on statutory training regulations and on the range of traditional, updated and newly emerging, up-to-date training occupations.

Vocational training law

There are currently about 360 state-recognized training occupations in Germany. They are updated regularly and adapted to economic and technical/technological changes. In terms of content, state-recognized training occupations are regulated by training regulations. These training regulations are the legal basis for the practical implementation of company-based vocational training.

Easing the burden

The Federal Government has eased the bureaucratic burden on entrepreneurs. Passing the instructor aptitude examination administered by the chambers of industry and commerce is no longer a binding prerequisite for offering training. This is an asset especially for small and new businesses, which will now be able to start offering training without prior investment of time and money.

We are providing specific financial incentives. Under the Capital for Work programme, SMEs can apply for low-interest loans whenever they recruit additional apprentices. With this year's training campaign, we must again succeed in offering apprenticeships to all young people who are able and willing to enter a training programme.

• 

  topic Education

  JOBSTARTER: Funding programme for more traineeships

  The Federal Ministry of Education and Research is supporting the development of a training structure through its JOBSTARTER programme. This programme is already supplying funding for 200 innovative projects in vocational training. A further 43 projects are due to be launched in 2009. All these projects are helping to create additional traineeships in the regions and are offering various measures to support companies which either have no previous experience with training or which have grown weary of providing training. They are making an important contribution to structural development, for example by establishing cross-border training cooperation or launching collaborative training schemes. An additional focus is on projects which test new opportunities under the Vocational Training Act (BBiG).
  more (URL: http://www.bmbf.de/en/2313.php)
   
  
• 

  topic Education

  Regulation of vocational education and training

  The main reason for Germany's economic strength is its standardized and good initial and continuing vocational training. Young people and companies have every right to expect that their education efforts are embedded in a system which ensures access, quality, mobility and innovative ability. This is regulated in the amended Vocational Training Act (BBiG) and its training regulations. It is also the basis for nationally standardized high-quality continuing training. Standardized requirements and examination standards ensure the high qualification of employees and thus the business success of companies.
  more (URL: http://www.bmbf.de/en/6535.php)
   
  

• topic Education

  Funding intercompany training centres

  The BMBF is funding intercompany training centres to help small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to provide training in a recognized training occupation. Solutions to training problems which cannot be solved by individual SMEs can, after all, be found at intercompany level. Furthermore, intercompany training centres can develop into competence centres.
  more (URL: http://www.bmbf.de/en/586.php)
   
  
• 

  topic Education

  Recognized Training Occupations

  All in all, there are about 350 state recognized training occupations. The period of training in these occupations is usually two or three years. About 60% of the young people take up dual vocational education and training which is concluded by a state examination.
  more (URL: http://www.bmbf.de/en/550.php)
   
  

• topic Ministry

  Federal Institute for Vocational Education and Training (BIBB)

  The Federal Institute for Vocational Education and Training (BIBB) is a national and international centre of excellence for research on initial and continuing vocational education and training (VET) and the progressive development of VET. Its research, development and advisory work is aimed at identifying future tasks of vocational education and training, promoting innovation in national and international vocational education and training and developing new, practice-oriented solutions for initial and continuing vocational education and training.
  more (URL: http://www.bmbf.de/en/2239.php)