Vocational training without bounds

Work placements abroad for DKFZ (German Cancer Research Center) apprentices

What is almost mandatory for university students remains as yet rather the exception for young people in vocational education and training: a sojourn abroad as part of the vocational training programme. Since 2009, apprentices at the DKFZ training towards occupations such as biological laboratory technician, information technology specialist and office administrator are given the opportunity to spend some weeks abroad in Europe for gaining further experience. By now, about ten of the currently 120 apprentices make use of this opportunity each year.

In the past year, the DKFZ sent nine young people to either England, Malta, Scotland, Sweden or Spain. They worked at their host research institutions and companies for a period of up to twelve weeks and thus improved not only their language skills, but familiarised themselves also with other work environments and cultures.

Dr Celina Cziepluch, Head of Vocational and Advanced Training at the DKFZ, confirms: "The visits abroad of our apprentices create an absolute advantage especially for working at a research institution with a strong international orientation such as the German Cancer Research Center."