University drop-outs become apprentices

The German Chancellor promotes shortened vocational education and training periods for university drop-outs. Together with Federal Education Minister Wanka, she acquainted herself with the successful vocational education and training project 'Switch' at a company in Aachen. It is set to be implemented throughout Germany.

The number of first-time students is high. Yet many do not complete their degree course. Some students fail up to three times in an exam. Others drop out of university, because studying does not meet with their expectations, interests and disposition. What next?

This is where a federal government programme comes into play: "Jobstarter plus". It supports 18 pilot projects, one of which is 'Switch'. It helps to place university drop-outs in vocational education and training occupations. "Such models are to become a reality", said Merkel.

Together, the German Chancellor and Federal Education Minister Johanna Wanka visited the company ComConsult Kommunikationstechnik in Aachen. It is one of the partners in the 'Switch' pilot project. At this project business, university drop-outs can complete a shortened apprenticeship of 18 months duration at the best.

Aachen is exemplary, because all institutions work together: the city, the universities, the Chamber of Industry and Commerce, the Federal Employment Agency and the vocational colleges. The Chancellor hopes that this example will be adopted throughout Germany.

Merkel spoke with apprentices, trainers and other experts about the vocational education and training opportunities for university drop-outs. Dropping out of university should not be perceived as a stigma, but rather as an opportunity for re-orientation.

University drop-outs, too, are high-achieving young people and sought-after junior employees for many small and medium-sized enterprises. Vocational education and training opens up for them a range of interesting prospects with regards to fields of application and executive responsibilities.

Merkel pointed out that 2.4 per cent of those who have completed a degree course are unemployed. Yet of those without a degree, 19 per cent are unemployed – in spite of a very good employment market. "This means that everybody who does not use such an opportunity for completing an apprenticeship faces a much greater threat of potentially becoming unemployed", said Merkel.

Merkel and Wanka also acquainted themselves with the procedures for the recognition of foreign professional qualifications at the central recognition office of the Chambers of Industry and Commerce (IHK), the IHK-Fosa (Foreign Skills Approval) in Nuremberg. There, they also spoke with applicants and entrepreneurs.

"These days, everybody coming to us from abroad has a legal right to have his or her professional training assessed here and to have it recognised either in full or partly. This helps to improve the life of many, many people while at the same time we can use this to remedy the skilled labour shortage", said the Chancellor.

The Recognition Act, which came into force in April 2012, is an important element for safeguarding the skilled labour supply and for expression of the culture of recognition and welcome in Germany. The recognition of professional qualifications opens up access to the German labour market both for foreign professionals who already live in Germany and immigrants. Germany needs foreign qualified professionals to satisfy the increasing demand for skilled labour.

The IHK-Fosa is the central office for the assessment and recognition of foreign professional qualifications for the Chamber of Industry and Commerce occupations that are regulated by federal law. These include the more than 250 IHK vocational education and training occupations according to the Vocational Education and Training Act as well as the many IHK advanced training occupations.