Training in Germany for a greater practical focus at vocational schools and universities.
"International trainer aptitude certificate" for Chinese mechatronics teachers
Starting in November 2017, 54 teachers from China completed training in mechatronics and motor vehicle mechatronics in the German cities of Dortmund and Hamm. The objective was to deliver practical learning content and teaching methods as well as an improved understanding of the dual system in Germany.
Upon completion of their final examination, all those involved obtained the International Trainer Aptitude Certificate (iADA) – based on the German Ordinance on Trainer Aptitude (Ausbildereignungsverordnung AEVO) – from the Dortmund International Chamber of Commerce and Industry (IHK).
The contracting authority for the training measure was the Ministry of Education for Henan province who had made the relevant request to the Shanghai International Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
iMove's office in China, which is based in Shanghai, brought the Chinese party together with German training partners.
The measure was implemented by the Institute for Dortmund Training and Careers e. V. (GBB) in cooperation with the Dortmund International Chamber of Commerce and Industry (IHK), the Dortmund Chamber of Crafts and Trades and the Hamm Vocational Retraining Centre (for adults with disabilities).
A range of training requirements
The training participants included teaching staff from vocational schools and universities. The variety of educational establishments meant that the training entailed a range of different requirements.
In order to also meet the needs of university teaching staff, the GBB had organised provision to supplement the training measure, the actual focus of which was vocational education and training.
This included, for example, excursions to universities of applied science and a three day seminar on "Technology teaching focused on problem-solving and practice". The training also included further visits to educational institutions.
The GBB had also organised a recreational programme. For example, guests visited BVB (Borussia Dortmund football club), the Gasometer in Oberhausen and they also held a small table tennis and badminton tournament.
The training was conducted in German and was translated into Chinese by an interpreter. The final examination was completed in both languages.
Examinees completed the written section in Chinese, and the services of the interpreter were again called on for the oral examination.
Further training planned
The aim, following completion of the training activity, is for the Chinese-German collaboration to be continued with additional training in Germany. Representatives from the Henan Ministry of Education underlined this intention with their visit to Germany during the training.
The plan is for the Shanghai International Chamber of Commerce and Industry to also run activities in China in addition to the training measures in Germany.
The lecturers and trainers enjoyed working with motivated and interested Chinese teaching staff. The practical teaching was, in turn, particularly valuable for the guests who would have liked the learning to have lasted for longer than twelve weeks.
Institute for Training and Careers e. V. (GBB)
Hördere Bahnhofstraße 6
44263 Dortmund, Germany
Contact Person:
Bernd Schnittker, Member of the Managing Board
Phone: +49 231 557217-0
Institute for Training and Careers
Institute for Training and Careers e. V. is member of the iMOVE provider database. Check the provider profile.
Feedback from Chinese teaching staff
Following the return of the teaching staff to Henan province, ZHANG Ye, who is based at the iMOVE office in China, interviewed some of those who participated in the twelve-week training in Germany. Read some extracts from the interviews here.
"A Chinese-German training centre has been established at my college. This is an important outcome of the localisation of the German dual system of vocational education and training in Henan province. I therefore had a good reason for participating in the training activity in Germany. As a teacher at the Chinese-German training centre, I wanted to see for myself training under the dual principle in Germany and to discuss issues in depth with German teachers and trainers. I also wanted to learn and find out about training concepts, practical teaching methods, advanced teacher training and the equipment required for practical training.
The success of continuing education in Germany in terms of learning exceeded my expectations. The training for vocational school teachers organised by the GBB is ideal. The learning and visits to automotive manufacturers, dealerships and vocational schools in the region allowed us to get to know the dual system in Germany and the areas of learning.
By switching my role from teacher to trainee, I experienced the dual system and practical teaching methods from a new perspective.
I will benefit from the training for a long time to come, even though it only lasted for three months. The training has enabled me to broaden my horizons and to deepen my understanding of the teaching ideas involved in German vocational education and training.
I am now back in China and seeking to develop areas of learning for my courses based on my experiences in Germany and to adapt these to the requirements of the automotive industry in our province. Secondly, I will be using the teaching methods we learned about in the training on my courses and placing greater emphasis on developing the pupils' key competencies. Thirdly, I will be sharing what I learned with my colleagues."
Translated by ZHANG Ye, iMOVE office in China, March 2018
"I wanted to get to know modern teaching ideas and teaching methods in Germany during my advanced training. I also wanted to learn about the range of experiences German people have had with their system of education and training in order to support the development of Chinese vocational education and training.
In addition to the specialist content, I was also very interested to find out about the cultural differences between China and Germany.
The training met my expectations.
I would like to use my experiences in Germany as the basis for developing practical teaching and learning materials and using them in practical projects.
I would like to be involved in setting up the system in our college which links together the areas of Production, Learning, Research and Innovation.
We should identify cooperation between schools and companies. This is because companies should be more heavily and more actively involved in training at vocational schools. I was very much impressed by the high level of social responsibility of German companies."
Translated by ZHANG Ye, iMOVE office in China, March 2018
"I participated in the training measure in Germany because I would like to be an outstanding trainer who is able to deliver both theoretical knowledge and practical skills.
I wanted to understand the nature of the German dual system of vocational education training in greater depth.
I wanted to learn about teaching methods which would enable me to generate a greater interest in learning among my pupils and to increase the impact of the learning.
The training fully met my expectations. But it would have been even better if it had lasted for six months or more.
In future I will place greater emphasis on delivering practical skills and on including specific work assignments and work scenarios within the teaching materials."
Translated by ZHANG Ye, iMOVE office in China, March 2018
"Over those three months, the GBB organised the specialist training for us and prepared us for the International Trainer Aptitude Certificate. The plan for each week gave us four days of theoretical and practical teaching and on one day we visited various companies and institutions.
During the training we followed a full programme and had an interesting and enjoyable time. The training met my expectations. However I would have liked to find out more about the university of applied sciences model.
The Henan Institute of Technology has been working with the Shanghai International Chamber of Commerce and Industry since March 2017 on the broad-based introduction of a training and examination system in accordance with the German model. In the process of setting up this Chinese-German training centre at our school I will use the newly acquired knowledge in the following areas:
- Localisation of the German dual system of vocational education and training,
- Introduction of German teaching standards and development of learning areas,
- Establishment of cooperative arrangements between schools and companies
- Curriculum development using methods learned in Germany and
- training other teaching staff."
Translated by ZHANG Ye, iMOVE office in China, March 2018
Photos: GBB and participants of the training