At a meeting held in Bonn on 17 June 2010, the Board of the Federal Institute for Vocational Education and Training (BIBB) - also referred to as the "Parliament of Vocational Education and Training" - unanimously adopted "Guidelines for improving the transition from school to work".
The guidelines also propose to "focus on the resources and talents of all young people and to provide youngsters with better individual support". In order to strengthen the direct transition from school to company-based vocational education and training, the Board believes that "consistent and transparent pathways" need to be created, the stated aim being to "facilitate fully qualifying vocational education and training and a VET qualification for all young people". The guidelines call upon the Federal Government and federal states to bundle and improve harmonisation of the diversity of provision at the transition from school to VET and to integrate such provision into an effective structure at a local level whilst involving the various stakeholders in regional networks.
The view of the BIBB Board is that transitional management should be aligned to the following guidelines:
- early preparation, well-founded vocational orientation;
- individual support and guidance and monitoring for young people;
- proximity to occupational and company practice, integration of trade and industry and business operations;
- regional coordination and management, role of the stakeholders;
- transparency and connectivity;
- evaluation of the programmes and measures.
The BIBB Board has the statutory duty to advise the Federal Government in all fundamental issues relating to vocational education and training. It has equal representation from employers and employer associations, the federal states and the Federal Government.