New advanced training institution in China with German support

The German Education Center Co., Ltd. has been opened in Beijing. It will offer programmes in the fields of "Environment", "Logistics and Transport", "Automobiles" and "Healthcare". The project is funded by the German Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF).

The German Education Center Co., Ltd. has been opened by the Minister-President of Lower Saxony, Stephan Weil. The German Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) supports the Institut für Berufspädagogik und Erwachsenenbildung (IfBE – Institute for Occupational and Adult Education) with 495,000 Euro.

The IfBE is responsible for the scientific supervision of the project, with the Chinesisches Zentrum Hannover and DEKRA Akademie being responsible for the practical implementation. The two project partners intend to adapt various programmes from the fields of "Environment", "Logistics and Transport", "Automobiles" and "Healthcare" to match Chinese requirements with regards to both culture and content and to subsequently launch these on the market.

This requires the IfBE's know-how. Headed by Professor Steffi Robak and Professor Julia Gillen, a research team has carried out a demand analysis for the project partners, on the basis of which programmes and other services now will be planned. The scientists have moreover developed a qualitative research design based on triangulation to investigate the establishment process and successful placement on the Chinese market. This approach combines several research methods such as participatory observation, offer and document analysis, interviews and video analysis.

The accompanying research project is intended to help develop professional modes of action in the fields of education management, programme planning and learning to promote competences. Aspects that are specific to the culture will be taken into special consideration. The goal is the development of recommendations for the practical provision of advanced training, which provide guidance in the designing of transnational service structures and in the provision of competence-oriented training courses.