iMOVE Network India

The silhouette of a lion against a colourful background was unmissable not only at the Hannover Messe trade fair, whose partner country this year is India, but also at the Berlin main train station and at other highly frequented locations in Germany.

Prime Minister Modi intends to attract foreign investors with the "Make in India" lion campaign. India is to become a global production site. To achieve this goal, it urgently needs more and better qualified skilled professionals.

Ulrich Meinecke, Head of Division of iMOVE at the German Federal Institute of Vocational Education and Training (BIBB), and Christian Stertz, Head of Division at the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF), welcomed the more than 40 guests to the iMOVE Network India.

Christian Stertz identified the event as an example of German-Indian co-operation in the field of vocational education and training. iMOVE has been making an on-going and visible contribution to this co-operation also in its capacity as a founding member of the German-Indian Working Group on Vocational Education and Training since 2007.

The participants were asked for their active co-operation right from the start. In six mixed small groups, German and Indian guests engaged in a lively debate as to whether vocational education and training exists at all in India, how the potential of India's demographic dividend can be harnessed and what German providers of education absolutely have to take into consideration when entering the Indian market.

The groups presented their results to the assembly in a very individual manner. Some aspects were addressed by more than one group: the lack of practical relevance of vocational education and training programmes in India, the necessity of better education already at school, the status of the existing state-run vocational education and training system and its stakeholders as well as the responsibility of the industry. The differences in size between India and Germany transpired again and again, also with regards to the number of current and future apprentices.

One Indian guest concluded his contribution with his personal view: "India has many people. Germany has technology and know-how. India has a future. Germany doesn't."

Although this was presented tongue-in-cheek and made the audience laugh, the guest made a pertinent remark. Every year, some 18 million young Indians enter the labour market, whereas the working population in Germany is in continual decline.

All represented Indian companies introduced themselves, their line of business and their demand for co-operation in the field of vocational education and training.

This helped the German providers of education to address potential Indian partners and customers in a targeted manner during the subsequent business initiation talks.

The guests were very pleased with the results of the day. During the concluding discussion, attendants identified concrete issues for subsequent joint exploration.

On 8 and 9 April 2015, following the request of iMOVE, German education institutions in Berlin provided the Indian guests with insights into their involvement in vocational education and training. The Indian group included also a delegation from the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI).

The group visited SGM - Solutions & Global Media GmbH, the Chamber of Industry and Commerce of Berlin, the vocational and advanced training centre of the Berliner Wasserbetriebe water company and the Gesellschaft für Schweißtechnik International mbH (GSI – International Welding Association).

Following the iMOVE Network India, some Indian guests used the opportunity to visit the Hannover Messe trade fair, where the short list for a tender called by iMOVE for the Indian Ministry of Labour and Employment was presented on 13 April 2015.

Moreover, on the next day, the 14th of April, the German-Indian Working Group on Vocational Education and Training met for the eighth time, chaired by the BMBF and the Indian Ministry of Labour and Employment; iMOVE is a member of this working group.