A delegation accompanying Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah, a minister from the Malaysian state of Sarawak in Southeast Asia, recently visited the Chamber of Industry and Commerce (IHK) East Brandenburg in order to sign off an exchange programme for trainees.
As of September, this arrangement will enable trainees from the region to complete a one-month placement in the Malaysian state of Sarawak northwest of the island of Borneo. Representatives of the government, IHK East Brandenburg and European University Viadrina were also in attendance.
"I think it is important that trainees from the region not only have the chance to train in Europe, but also worldwide. The government realises this is important for increasing the appeal of training when compared to a degree," emphasized IHK mobility advisor Eliza Rößler on Tuesday.
Both parties had participated in the "TrainingWorldwide" tender, a federal government exchange programme which sets out to make the vocational education and training more attractive. Well-known companies from Malaysia such as consultancy companies have stated they are prepared in this context to supervise trainees from Germany.
"What I like about East Brandenburg is that things are simple, but they work," explains Sim Ling Ling from Ethos Connect International, the Sarawak-based consultancy firm, at the meeting. She then praised the welcome received from the region and the excellent English-language skills of its inhabitants. The business woman came to East Brandenburg two years ago - where she maintains close contacts to this day - via the Federal Institute for Vocational Education and Training in Bonn.
Government minister Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah, who is responsible for the areas of tourism, art, culture, youth and sports, praised Germany's technology as world leading and emphasized his willingness to enter into an exchange with the region. Jürgen Neyer, Viadrina Vice President, also emphasized at the meeting that the European University was open to vocational education and training cooperation.
Prospective hotel manager Nadine Lang from Bad Saarow and Frieda Thevarajah, a future office administrator, are the first two trainees to travel to Sarawak in September.