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.

Vocational education and training in Germany includes the entire qualification process from training preparation to classical vocational education to continuing training. For some years now, people can no longer expect to do the same kind of work for their entire life. Requirements in the training occupations change, and for many employees it will be necessary some time in their professional life to change to another occupational field.

The system of vocational qualification must therefore live up to different demands. Apprentices and companies both expect vocational training at the highest possible standardized, national level. Those who have trained in an occupation want to get ahead in their field of work and to have opportunities for continuing training. Those who change to another occupational field do not want to have to start from scratch again in a related branch but want to have their qualifications accredited.

The standardized regulation of vocational education and training is thus an important basis for good occupational skills, for a mobile workforce and for further career development.

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  topic Education

  Reform of Vocational Education and Training

  The German dual system of vocational training is worldwide renowned and exemplary. To maintain this status, training as such as well as the legal basis must keep track of current challenges. The German Bundestag therefore passed the Vocational Training Reform Act on 27 January 2005; the Bundesrat gave its consent on 18 February. The objective of the reform is to secure and improve training opportunities as well as the high quality of vocational training for all young people - irrespective of their social or regional background. The Reform Act entered into force on 1 April 2005.
  more (URL: http://www.bmbf.de/en/1644.php)
   
  
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  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 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)