India Day, the first to be organised by iMOVE, took place on October 7, 2010 in Berlin. It was met with tremendous interest and enthusiasm. The vocational education and training programme of the Indian sub-continent was presented in all its many facets during the all-day event.
Approximately 21 responsibles from German vocational training institutions met 13 guests from Indian vocational education and training institutions, who were visiting Germany for one week as part of the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) delegation.
The agenda provided optimum conditions to create new networks; numerous presentations and discussions allowed attendees to receive first-hand information about India. Markus Milwa from iMOVE was the moderator throughout the day; he requested all speakers to keep their presentations brief in order to allot more time for discussion and direct exchange with the plenum.
Sabine Gummersbach-Majoroh, Director of iMOVE, and Ashutosh Raina, Head of the FICCI-Delegation, opened India Day and lauded the tremendous interest of the registered guests.
They announced that two cooperation agreements would be signed the following day. One between FICCI and iMOVE and the other between FICCI and the Federal Institute for Vocational Education and Training (BIBB). The signing took place at the ABB Training Center in Berlin in the presence of Anand Sharma, the Indian Minister of Industry and Commerce.
FICCI-President Ranjan Bharti Mittal and iMOVE-Director Sabine Gummersbach-Majoroh signed a cooperation agreement related to matters involving vocational education and training. The main points of the agreement constitute cooperation in a train the trainer program in India and setting up a vocational education and training economic advisory council. Furthermore, FICCI and iMOVE will create an ongoing platform to facilitate contact between Indian and German partners.
A second cooperation agreement was signed by Ranjan Bharti Mittal and Manfred Kremer, President of the Federal Institute for Vocational Education and Training (BIBB). The purpose of this agreement is to foster a regular exchange of information and ideas in areas such as quality assurance, development of vocational education and training standards or examinations and certifications.
The first three presentations were a great start to India Day.
Reinhard Koslitz presented Worlddidac India as the optimum Indian Trade Show for topics related to education and announced that it would again be held in New Delhi in 2011. Yvonne Salazar from FESTO didactic presented the long-term involvement of her company in India. Martin Trentmann from Berufsförderungswerk der Bauindustrie NRW e.V. [Vocational Promotion Center for the Construction Industry NRW e.V.] recommended his company as a cooperation partner in the booming construction industry.
After a lively break, Monika Muylkens from BIBB reported on the status of the German-Indian working group in vocational education and training; she outlined the 22 most important industry areas and their vocational trainers from an Indian perspective.
The afternoon was dedicated to Indian and German guests. Each gave a short introductory presentation, including requirements for Indian-German cooperation. Topics ranged from projects in vocational education and training to the fight against poverty in the country, to vocational education and training matters in modern tech companies.
At the end of the day, during a light Indian meal, there was adequate opportunity for personal discussions, All those present indicated they were very happy with the event and applauded the time allotted for networking.
During iMOVE India Day, guests new to India as well as those with previous experience in India, gained insight, perspectives and new ideas regarding potential collaboration between Germany and India.
