German training staff are becoming increasingly valued in the Middle East for
their vocational education programmes. Bonn-based institute iMOVE's Silvia
Niediek and Kristine Schinkmann explain how the synergy is working out well for
all concerned.
zenith: How would you characterise the
opportunities for German training organisations in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, especially
in countries such as Egypt and Saudi Arabia?
Silvia
Niediek: Germany has a long-standing tradition of vocational education and
training and a strong reputation for its qualification programmes. With this
broad range of training programmes, and a strong emphasis on employability,
'Training – Made in Germany' can potentially support and promote transformation
processes of Arab training systems.
Expansion, modernisation and the
reforming of education and research sectors, are high priority in Arab states.
The education sector is already under pressure, due to the increasing numbers of
pupils and students and the need for Arab countries and the Gulf states in
particular, to diversify their economies, to offer their young people adequate
employment. Further developmental strategies include the expansion of
manufacturing industries, especially in the high tech sector, and high-quality
service industries. Again, all these goals cannot be achieved without
appropriate education.
Kristine Schinkmann: From our point of
view there are manifold opportunities for German training providers in the MENA
region. Several providers have already established affiliates or co-operate with
local partners, based on the German dual system.
The iMOVE brochures on
'Developing Skills for Employability with German Partners' feature several
examples of co-operation projects between Arab and German partners. For
examples, in Egypt, education programmes are needed in the renewable energy,
construction, and healthcare sectors. With the Vision 2030 plan, the Saudi
government has outlined the need for, and promised investment in, vocational
education and training.
German companies are already working in the
country and are implementing programmes that involve local industry to match the
required needs. Siemens is working with Saudi Aramco, General Electric and Sabic
to set up a National Power Academy in the Kingdom, to train young people.
German partners are also involved in vocational training schemes at a technical
college in Yanbu as well as at a technical trainers' college in
Riyadh.
How can training organisations ensure that their
programmes match the requirements of a particular job market and that graduates
are employed?
Kristine Schinkmann: In Germany we
believe that successful training must always be based on actual demands of the
industry and the public sector, which requires a process of constant review. In
order to achieve optimal results, industry, vocational schools and government
are involved in a collaborative process. Companies need to describe their
specific needs and be involved in the development of curricula.
Teachers need to be able to understand the processes within a company,
including its administrative and legal aspects, and to be able to teach with the
help of up-to-date technology, which calls for the modern equipment found at
vocational schools.
Silvia Niediek: Strong vocational education
and training (VET) reform can open up the labour market for young people and
reduce youth unemployment. Governments and enterprises agree that vocational
education must be an integral element in their long-term economic strategies.
'Training – Made in Germany' focuses on a close relationship between
training and employment. Youth unemployment in Germany is below eight per cent,
one of the lowest rates worldwide. The dual system of vocational education and
training is considered a fundamental reason for this.
What
benefits come through greater dialogue and
coordination?
Kristine Schinkmann: Strategic alliances
and mutually-beneficial partnerships are vital for success. Coordinating bodies
within countries can help to ensure that all players involved pull together.
With the Arab-German Education and Vocational Training Forum, an ideal
platform has been created to drive German-Arab co-operation. The event, jointly
organised by iMOVE and Ghorfa under the auspices of the Federal Minister of
Education and Research, brings together policy-makers from many Arab countries
and Germany to discuss mutually-beneficial solutions and how best to achieve
them. And many new training projects aimed at labour markets have already
started, and become success stories thanks to the joint efforts of Arab and
German partners.
Germany's industrial economy, with its
vocational pathways and links between education and industry has instructive
potential for the MENA region. What specific lessons can be
learned?
Kristine Schinkmann: Under the dual system in
Germany, young people are trained according to nationally-standardised
curricula. They know exactly what is expected of them at work, because 70 per
cent of their training takes place in a company and 30 per cent in school.
Therefore, companies who hire graduates from the dual training system can
integrate their new employees directly into the working process.
The
trainees enter into a contract with a company, earning a salary during their
training period, which takes up to three and a half years, depending on the
profession they chose. Additionally, trainees benefit from soft-skills training:
punctuality, taking responsibility, teamwork and so on. Trainees are highly
motivated to perform well, because the company can otherwise dismiss them
without a graduation certificate.
Even during the training process,
trainees provide return on investment for their company, because they are
already fully integrated into the working process.
Silvia
Niediek: Germany's education system is regarded as highly competitive and
German industry enjoys an excellent reputation, thanks to this professional
education, based on the dual system. Consequently, German enterprises make for
reliable partners in developing competitive education institutions.
Fostering co-operation between German companies and Arab education institutions
will bring mutual benefits. The governments of most Arab countries heavily
invest in promoting vocational education and training, understanding it to be
essential for professional career development and social participation. Yet it
is important that attractive jobs and corresponding salaries are available.
This requires appropriately-equipped education centres, modern
curricula, cross-company training provision and examination standards as well as
qualified teachers and trainers.
Would you say German training
programmes have anything special to offer the Arab
world?
Silvia Niediek: Germany has been supporting the
Arab world for many years now in its efforts to make progress in reforming the
education market, especially in times of widespread political unrest and
profound employment market problems. Even though every country requires its own
education system, which it needs to develop independently it can incorporate
proven elements from another system, like the successful German dual
system.
In addition to vocational training and continuing education
programmes, there are train-the-trainer programmes, curriculum development,
designing and equipping of training facilities, and practice-oriented teaching
and learning resources. German education providers can also offer relatively
short courses and programmes, as well as training in Germany, all of which
guarantees a certain degree of employability and at the same time, opens up
further development prospects.
In the MENA region there can be
the so-called 'culture of shame', with many citizens not wanting a vocational
career. Is this something to be addressed within a vocational training
programme?
Kristine Schinkmann: Although there is an
urgent economic and social need for vocational training in many parts of the
world, it can be difficult to make it widely accepted in some societies. An
academic education followed by a position in public service is considered to be
the ideal career in many countries.
In some Arab states, the private
sector is dependent on foreign labour, up to 90 per cent in certain cases. Many
governments want to change this in order to avoid further inflation of
employment in the public sector, which is impossible to fund in the medium and
long term.
But to make potential trainees aware of the appeal of
vocational training with its employment and income opportunities, then these
opportunities must exist. So domestic businesses can become a driving force of
education reform in their respective country, they can influence and shape not
only their own economic success, but also that of their nation.
Starting from as early as nursery school, teachers and especially parents
should communicate to children that there are alternative education pathways to
an academic career that are also profitable and rewarding.
Silvia
Niediek: Vocational training can improve its appeal through integration in
academic courses at university level. Highly-specialised academic courses of
study with significant practical components are a modern learning concept,
developed in Germany. These dual study programmes are considered to be an ideal
approach to winning over young people to a vocational qualification and offer an
excellent opportunity for the private sector, looking for qualified young
talent, by providing internships and in-company training programmes.
The
German education system integrates measures such as career coaches and mentoring
programmes. Other ways this objective might be achieved include entrepreneur
training programmes for young skilled workers and privately based
micro-financial aid.