Nothing is possible without the companies

Germany's company-based vocational education and training system is an object of envy for many Europeans. As has been demonstrated at a conference in Brussels, companies are indispensable to apprentice training.

There is considerable interest in the European Union in company-based vocational education and training, as was made clear at an international conference initiated by the Frankfurt-Rhine-Main Chamber of Crafts and Trades and held in the European capital of Brussels.

One particular feature of the discussions and networking which took place at the event was the participation of representatives of trade and industry from Hessen's partner regions of Aquitaine-Limousin-Poitou-Charentes (France), Emilia-Romagna (Italy) and Wielkopolska (Poland).

Chamber of Crafts and Trades President Bernd Ehinger highlighted the significance of dual training as a location factor. "We wish to increase the debate with our European partners still further and promote the benefits dual training provides for the economy and for society." From the point of view of the German craft trades sector, dual training secures the future and prosperity in Europe and creates a basis for combating the shortage of skilled workers.

The representatives from the partner regions pointed to the model character the German company-related Vocational Education and Training (VET) system has for them. Professor Patrizio Bianchi, who is responsible for European policy and vocational education and training in the regional government of Emilia-Romagna, stated that the significance of companies in training played an important role in the new Pact for Work in Italy.

Marzenna Wodzinska from Wielkopolska said the same thing applied to Poland. The economy in her voivodeship was doing well, and youth unemployment was only at around five percent. Emmanuel Closse, director of dual and vocational training for the French partner region, showed how important the company link was in terms of the major role played by the regions in improving occupational skills. The chair of the conference, the journalist Peter Riesbeck, summed up the discussion by saying "Nothing is possible without the companies."

Helen Hoffmann, who deals with this topic for the General Directorate for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion said that improvements to company-based training in the European Union (EU) were still fundamentally required "at all Levels". She pointed to a plethora of EU activities directed at supporting VET, such as "Erasmus Plus", the successful EU Programme to foster trainee mobility. Ms. Hoffmann also said that company involvement was crucial in terms of combating youth unemployment.

German pastry cook Sara Heydweiller, who completed an apprenticeship in another EU country after gaining her upper secondary school leaving certificate, presented a refreshing field report. She said that training was "worthwhile" and that it was useful to obtain experience of working abroad along the route to acquiring a master craftsman qualification. Sara, whose friendly manner made a very favourable impression, said that the four main things she had taken from her experiences abroad were "confidence, independence, friendships and language knowledge".

The European Commission has issued a Communication on a "European Agenda for Competences". It contains proposals regarding issues such as "strengthening vocational Training" and "introduction of a European training week". "This is very encouraging from my point of view," said Chamber President Bernd Ehinger. "We need to work together to move towards shaping vocational training in Europe in a sustainable way."

He pointed out that the craft trade organisations would need to be involved in stipulating quality standards and would have to guarantee the future viability of learning content included in the vocational education and training. On the other hand, policy makers would need to create a framework to facilitate access to training for companies. "We need to be extremely careful not to favour academic training," Mr. Ehinger went on: "We must provide training in accordance with requirements."

Hessen's State Secretary for Education and Cultural Affairs underlined the importance of the dual training system in Germany: "We are of the firm view that the system of dual training will also be a successful model within the European context."