The Saarland Ministry of Education and Culture, the Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and the Saarland Chamber of Crafts and Trades have agreed a cooperation under which, in future, not only the school-based element of vocational education and training is to be covered by relevant certification, but the cross-border, company-based part of the training is also to benefit.
This means that Saarland has instigated something which does not yet exist in other federal states. Ulrich Commerçon, Minister for Education and Culture, stated "We have set out ambitious targets in the France strategy. This cooperation enables us to enhance training and professional qualifications and to come closer to these targets. In addition, it also contributes to greater Europeanization because we are using this initiative to contribute further to overcoming differences. Not only are we supporting specialist language competence, mobility and vocational opportunities for young people in Saarland, but also for young people from across the wider region."
Dr. Heino Klingen, General Manager of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry commented "This new project represents a third element in the promotion of cross-border training. Young people who complete a placement in the neighbouring country as part of their training or when they are attending vocational school, receive a certificate from the Chamber of Commerce and Industry. This records the fact that, as a rule, the content of vocational training is comparable. Our hope is that the enhancement of the company-based placement will consolidate the Franco-German vocational school element in the interests of the dual partnership between school and company".
"The measures taken by the ministry to enhance and support the exchange of trainees, and in relation to cross-border training of teaching staff, are supporting the occupational mobility of young skilled workers in the border region. We are therefore supporting this ministry initiative," noted Dr. Arnd Klein-Zirbes, General Manager of the Saarland Chamber of Crafts and Trades.
Background: The "Franco-German vocational school" model is currently being implemented in three areas in Saarland: Automotive in the St. Ingbert Vocational Training Centre (VTC), tourism at the Halberg Commercial VTC and hospitality/catering at the Technical and Industrial VTC II in Saarbrücken. An expansion of the concept to other areas and locations is planned in addition to this. The aim of the model is to promote international mobility and vocational exchange between France and Germany as early as the dual training stage.
One key aspect in the implementation is that the additional hurdles faced by trainees when seeking to enter the particular types of vocational school - for example linguistic requirements, additional examinations and additional financial cost - are avoided.
Key methods of the implementation in the vocational school include greater focus on the teaching of corporate culture and of the specialist language of a partner country, and the completion of placement phases in that partner country. The intention is also that, in future, teaching staff and experts in vocational education and training will work for a period in the respective neighbouring country. Long-term financing of the trainee exchanges is provided by the Franco-German Secretariat for Exchanges in the Vocational Education and Training (DFS). Financing models of the Franco-German Youth Office (DFJW) can also be integrated. Growth via Erasmus+ is likewise possible. The intention is to minimise costs as far as possible for those schools implementing the model.
The trainees currently receive various certificates from their participation in the Franco-German vocational school element: a separate statement on the vocational school leaving certificate, a DSF attendance certificate and the Europass. Various potential starting points exist for the ongoing development of the Franco-German vocational school element model. Certification might, in future, also enable occupational-related work to be documented which has been completed by trainees during their exchange with the relevant companies in the neighbouring country. As part of this, occupational-related training content is to be presented in a certificate from the (relevant) chamber and linked to the occupation.