News about VET from Germany

Skill and a sense of fashion are the requirements for training as a footwear maker and finisher. There was a time when the job was in crisis - too many companies were going abroad. Today the sector is certainly not big. However, once again, there is a desperate need for footwear makers and finishers.

The Michelin tyre plant in Karlsruhe was a pioneer in cross-border training between Germany and France. This was where the first trainee from France began his vocational education and training under the dual system. Anne Schalk is training manager at Michelin and her overall assessment after four years is very positive. As a result, this year - for the first time - there are twice as many trainees from France than from Germany starting their training at the Karlsruhe plant.

A shortage of skilled workers is the problem in many places. The skilled crafts are also not immune from this. However, this year the domestic skilled construction trades can again be pleased about substantial reinforcements. As part of the traditional skilled craftsman graduation event, 35 successful trainees from the construction occupations received their sought-after journeyman's certificate.

For years the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) has ignored vocational education and training and demanded more students. As a consequence there are more students today than trainees. The organisation is now changing its opinion.

An English translation of the Report on the Recognition Act (2017) is now available. In addition to a detailed overview of 5 years of monitoring implementation of the Federal Government's Recognition Act, this report also includes an outline of the findings from the evaluation of the act. This highlights the positive effect of the Recognition Act.

Morocco aims to increase the share of renewable energy. A new institute is providing the training for experts.

The European Commission has adopted a proposal for a European Framework for Quality and Effective Apprenticeships. This initiative is part of the New Skills Agenda for Europe, launched in June 2016.

When today's school leavers are asked what they want to do once they finish school, more than half are likely to give responses such as, "I'm off to university once I have finished my upper secondary school leaving certificate" or "After intermediate secondary school, I'll do a specialist upper secondary certificate and then study for a degree."

Whilst some sectors are desperately seeking to recruit trainees, other branches are experiencing an oversupply. The biggest problem, however, is companies which do not provide training and do not offer permanent employment to qualified journeymen. Berlin has a shortage of apprenticeships, whilst Bavaria lacks applicants. Despite record levels of employment, less and less training is taking place. We take a look at the figures shortly after the beginning of the new training year.