Three projects show how German skilled crafts training creates better job prospects abroad for young people.
South Africa: improving chances
At five o'clock in the morning, Phumlani Vernon Simamane has to get up to be on time at Umfolozi College, Richards Bay. He likes his way there; his neighbours call encouragement to the young man: "Make us proud!" He has decided to train to be a plumber. At Umfolozi College, there are many young people for whom skilled crafts training is important. Since November 2015, there has been a Vocational Training Partnership (BBP) between the district craftsmen's association of Steinfurt-Warendorf in North Rhine-Westphalia and Umfolozi College on South Africa's east coast. The apprentices benefit from the well-equipped workshops. And with its focus on strong practical orientation, the cooperation increases job opportunities of young people.
Ecuador: making practice-oriented training possible
Nine dual training courses in five cities are components of the Formados Vocational Training Partnership (BBP). In these courses young Ecuadorians learn the occupation of textile mechanic in the city of Quito or the skilled craft of apparel tailor in the town of Cotacachi. The goal is "practice-oriented vocational training for young people in Ecuador". The German Chamber of Industry and Commerce (DIHK) has been cooperating with Ecuador since December 2013; the Ecuadorian private sector is also participating. The partners are developing dual training courses in the areas of metal, textiles / fashion, woodworking, software development, plastics and rubber technology.
Vietnam: preparing teachers
That teachers continue to learn - this is the aim of the project "Modernizing Vietnamese Vocational Training". From May to October 2019, 49 vocational school teachers from Vietnam were trained at the Leipzig Chamber of Skilled Crafts and Trades, which is cooperating for this purpose with the Vietnamese Ministry of Labour. The teachers went through parts of a master class in the occupations of metal worker, precision mechanic, toolmakers and carpenters, and were also taught theory in the subjects and education science. As early as 2019, the first training classes began at 45 Vietnamese vocational schools, where practice-oriented instruction in the spirit of the dual system was taught. The German Confederation of Skilled Crafts' new coordination centre, SCIVET – Skilled Crafts from Germany, funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF), supported the project and other international vocational training projects, and helped to initiate new projects in cooperation with the craft industry.