First transatlantic vocational education and training co-operation

Germany and the United States of America have agreed on closer co-operation in the field of dual system vocational education and training. Thomas Rachel, the Parliamentary State Secretary at the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF), and high-ranking representatives from the US federal executive departments for Commerce, Education and Labor signed a corresponding agreement in Washington in the presence of United States Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker.

In Germany, this Joint Declaration of Intent, the first transatlantic agreement in the field of vocational education and training, is the responsibility of the government departments for education, labour and the economy, which are responsible for vocational education and training. It creates the framework conditions for future co-operation with the United States in the field of vocational education and training.

"The demand for well-trained skilled professionals is increasing also in the USA and especially at German companies with business operations in America – in particular in the technical occupations", said Thomas Rachel, Parliamentary State Secretary at the BMBF. "This memorandum of understanding will benefit the companies and in particular the young people on site."

The objectives of this intensified co-operation include the improved exchange of information regarding the organisation and established processes in the field of vocational education and training, regular expert visits and talks as well as the increased inclusion of businesses and industry associations in the vocational education and training provision.

Already, German industry enterprises implement many in-house qualification measures in their American branches. In order to provide better support for these measures, the German Embassy in Washington and the German Chambers of Commerce Abroad announced the 'Skills Initiative' in spring 2012. The initiative has helped to establish contact between interested German companies with operations in the United States and the seventeen responsible federal authorities and training institutions such as the Community Colleges. The ultimate goal is co-operation between businesses and educational institutions to provide apprentices with technical know-how and convey the practical application of this knowledge.

The activities within the 'Skills Initiative' are supported by the US government. President Obama and Vice-President Joe Biden have formed a task force including the responsible federal executive departments for Commerce, Education and Labor in order to reinforce the framework conditions for dual system vocational education and training and to support more pilot projects (preferably at the Community Colleges). These measures envision increased industry participation, which will benefit also the German companies with business operations in the United States.