The visitors explored dual vocational education and training in Germany as an example to follow in their own country.
Half of the 18-strong delegation comprised teaching staff from Korean schools while the other half were made up of company representatives and two employees from the "Korea Research Institute for Vocational Education and Training" (KRIVET), the organisers of the delegation's information visit to Germany. KRIVET has focused on research issues relating to vocational education and training and VET policy since 1997. The institute is also responsible for the development and implementation of training programmes and the organisation of transitions from the training sector into the labour market.
The counterpart to KRIVET in Germany is the Federal Institute for Vocational Education and Training (BIBB), which also focuses on the research and ongoing development of vocational training and continuing education. A cooperation agreement which also entails reciprocal information visits has existed between the two institutes since the year 2000.
"The dual system of vocational education and training is still in its infancy in South Korea. Three years ago, a start was made on an initial attempt to establish dual training in the country. Since then, the number of trips made by teaching staff and company representatives to Germany and to Switzerland has increased. The purpose of these trips is to familiarise the Koreans with the system of vocational education and training," explains a press release. The group is the fourth KRIVET delegation in the early part of this year.
The Max Weber Scool (MWS) in Gießen had only recently been approached regarding whether they would be prepared to host the delegation. Organising the visit for the guests from Korea immediately appealed to teacher Anna Gewiese. In addition to the programme at her our own school, she also arranged a visit to the Gießen teacher training organisation for vocational schools as well as a company tour of Schunk in Heuchelheim. This allowed guests to find out more about teacher training and to discuss dual training with practitioners from the company perspective.
Later, when the group met up at the MWS in the town centre following the visit to the teacher training organisation, a brief welcome address was provided by head teacher Karsten Wilke. Wilke not only introduced the training curriculum at the Max Weber School, but also provided a general introduction to the German school system, focusing in particular on vocational education and training.
This was followed by a presentation of particular provision for MWS pupils delivered by the relevant team leaders. Thomas Dickhaut, a teacher at the school, presented the MWS counselling team. This team is the initial point of contact for pupils with personal problems or problems of a vocational or school-based nature. The guests from Korea were already familiar with the "European Computer Driving Licence" (ECDL) which is offered in Korea as the "International Computer Driving Licence" (ICDL).
Teacher Nadine Rasper introduced the opportunity the school community has to take part in DECA, the international marketing competition. Participation is in English. Anna Gewiese rounded off the informative morning by providing details on the long-standing USA exchange with Fox-Valley Technical College (FVTC) in Appleton which is due to take place again this autumn.