More and more Asian countries are introducing dual vocational education and training programmes.
Young people in work overalls and safety shoes are operating small robots that extend their gripper arms in all directions. This scene at the Bosch Mechatronics Lab in Bangalore, India, is identical to the one
you would find at many of the company's German plants.
The apprentices here are receiving a dual vocational training based on the German model. Bosch trains 180 apprentices under conditions similar to those of a practical work situation. The German company's training centre in Bangalore serves as a model for Indian industry.
Despite the country's large population and a very high proportion of young people – 500 million people are under 25 years of age – India has a striking shortage of skilled specialists resulting from its strong economic growth. According to estimates, only 3 per cent of all employees have formal work training. It is estimated that there will a shortage of 50 million specialists in 2020. The government has set itself the goal of improving the training of 500 million people by 2022.
The German dual vocational training system has proven advantages as a reference model for a reform of the education system. It involves an average of four days a week at work and one day at the vocational school.
That means trainees gain practical experience from the very start and employers have an interest in taking on their apprentices permanently at the end of their training. According to one study, nearly half (44 per cent) of successful German trainees subsequently work in the field for which they trained.
This is also one of the reasons why the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) praised the system in 2013. According to the Skills beyond School study, the transition from school to work runs "remarkably smoothly" in Germany.
In 2008, over 90 per cent of 15- to 24-year-olds found employment after leaving school or were able to continue their education. Compared to other countries this is a high percentage. Furthermore, Germany has the lowest youth unemployment rate in Europe at 7.4 per cent. The dual training system undoubtedly contributes to this success story.
This success has drawn attention to the German training model in many countries. In order to better respond to the increasing number of enquiries about the dual training system, in September 2013 the Federal Government set up the German Office for International Cooperation in Vocational Education and Training (GOVET), which is attached to the Federal Institute for Vocational Education and Training (BIBB).
Departments, employees' and employers' representatives and chambers of industry and commerce regularly meet at the GOVET round table under the auspices of the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) to discuss issues and coordinate activities.
"It is not GOVET's goal here to transfer the German vocational training system to other countries 1:1. It has to be adapted to local conditions," emphasises Maren Verfürth, the member of staff responsible for India.
Nevertheless, interest in the German model remains unbroken, says Verfürth: since GOVET was set up, an increasing number of interested parties have been in touch. People from over 100 countries seek information from the organisation's website every month. "The number of enquiries has remained constant, but their quality has increased enormously," says Verfürth.