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27. / 28. October 2022

BIBB Congress "Future Skills - Thinking about Progress" in the World Conference Center Bonn (WCCB)

BIBB-Congress 2022: Future Skills – Thinking about Progress

Dual vocational education and training makes an indispensable contribution to economic, societal and social development in Germany. It has, however, undeniably lost some of its appeal over recent years. One of the ways in which this has been revealed is a significant decline in training contracts. The coronavirus pandemic has only served to reinforce this trend. At the same time we are facing enormous pending challenges in the shape of digitalisation, the energy transition, climate change and sustainability. Sufficient numbers of well-qualified skilled workers will be needed to overcome these. It will otherwise not be possible to achieve such major objectives.
More than 1,000 representatives from politics, science and practice from Germany and abroad came together in Bonn on 27 and 28 October 2022 to discuss possible solutions for overcoming economic and social challenges. They also discussed opportunities and prospects for vocational education and training in Germany in several panel discussions and eight working groups in the form of think tanks.

Livestream from the BIBB Congress on October 27th, 2022

The interest in the VET scene is huge, the event is completely booked up - nevertheless, those interested have the opportunity to follow the event live from 1 p.m. on the opening day of the BIBB Congress, October 27th.

English Livestream on YouTube

Program Highlights on October 27

13:00 Welcome speech by Prof. Dr. Friedrich Hubert Esser, President of BIBB
watch the video
13:10 Keynote address by Bettina Stark-Watzinger, Federal Minister of Education and Research
watch the video
13:35 Keynote address by Dr. Frank Appel, CEO Deutsche Post DHL Group
watch the video
14:30 Discussion group - Skill needs of a sustainable and knowledge-based economy and society
further information
16:45 Discussion group - Opportunities of vocational education and training for change: technology, immigration, qualification
further information

Thinking Spaces on October 28

Green Economy
Trans-
formation
Skilled workers
Equivalence
Continuing Education
Young researchers
Skilled migration
Future
Green Economy
Trans-
formation
Skilled workers
Equivalence
Continuing Education
Young researchers
Skilled migration
Future

Green Economy: This Thinking Space provides a tangible experience of how VET and occupational competence act as an effective factor in bringing about a sustainable transformation of society. Current central discourses are also used as a basis to reflect upon how employability skills are modernising within the context of changing requirements.

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Transformation: We will be working with experts from the fields of academic research and practice to categorise the shift which has been instigated by digital and technical developments. Where are changes taking place, and what are the means and structures which will allow transformation to training and work in a digitalised world?

read more

Skilled workers: We will use a consideration of the skilled worker shortages actually arising in the craft trades as a starting point for exploring the nature of the upcoming challenges for economic sectors, individual branches and companies.

read more

Equivalence: Skilled worker shortages currently exist at the intermediate qualification level in particular, and this is a situation which many sectors view with concern. Many young people prefer to enter higher education and seem to view dual training as a second-best option. How can the public be better persuaded to perceive these two education and training pathways as equivalent? This is the issue being addressed by this Thinking Space.

read more

Continuing Education: So what needs to be done in order to increase participation in continuing training and to strengthen vocational education and training pathways? This issue forms the core of this particular Thinking Space. We will examine specific examples of individual education and training biographies in order to explore innovations for advanced and continuing vocational education and training.

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Young researchers: We wish to provide all interested parties with an opportunity to gain the widest possible insight into these work-related thematic areas. For this reason, the main focus of our Thinking Spaces is on up-and-coming academic talent and on the doctorates and research projects they are pursuing.

read more

Skilled migration: How is VET able to assist with integration in the case of economic migration or migration for the purpose of training? How can the immigration of skilled workers be made sustainable through international cooperation? Perspectives from the fields of practice, policy making and research illustrate the prevailing conditions and the available opportunities.

read more

Future: The experiences gained during such times of catastrophe may be able to provide valuable assistance in the further development of the vocational education and training system and thus continue to secure an excellent level of provision.

read more

Green Economy: This Thinking Space provides a tangible experience of how VET and occupational competence act as an effective factor in bringing about a sustainable transformation of society. Current central discourses are also used as a basis to reflect upon how employability skills are modernising within the context of changing requirements.

read more

Transformation: We will be working with experts from the fields of academic research and practice to categorise the shift which has been instigated by digital and technical developments. Where are changes taking place, and what are the means and structures which will allow transformation to training and work in a digitalised world?

read more

Skilled workers: We will use a consideration of the skilled worker shortages actually arising in the craft trades as a starting point for exploring the nature of the upcoming challenges for economic sectors, individual branches and companies.

read more

Equivalence: Skilled worker shortages currently exist at the intermediate qualification level in particular, and this is a situation which many sectors view with concern. Many young people prefer to enter higher education and seem to view dual training as a second-best option. How can the public be better persuaded to perceive these two education and training pathways as equivalent? This is the issue being addressed by this Thinking Space.

read more

Continuing Education: So what needs to be done in order to increase participation in continuing training and to strengthen vocational education and training pathways? This issue forms the core of this particular Thinking Space. We will examine specific examples of individual education and training biographies in order to explore innovations for advanced and continuing vocational education and training.

read more

Young researchers: We wish to provide all interested parties with an opportunity to gain the widest possible insight into these work-related thematic areas. For this reason, the main focus of our Thinking Spaces is on up-and-coming academic talent and on the doctorates and research projects they are pursuing.

read more

Skilled migration: How is VET able to assist with integration in the case of economic migration or migration for the purpose of training? How can the immigration of skilled workers be made sustainable through international cooperation? Perspectives from the fields of practice, policy making and research illustrate the prevailing conditions and the available opportunities.

read more

Future: The experiences gained during such times of catastrophe may be able to provide valuable assistance in the further development of the vocational education and training system and thus continue to secure an excellent level of provision.

read more

Bettina Stark-Watzinger, Federal Education Minister

“The education we provide and the research we conduct mean that ‘Thinking about Progress’ IS already part of my department’s DNA. Research enables us to drive forward technological and ecological change. Good education, and attractive vocational education and training in particular, will allow us to train the skilled workers needed to tackle the associated transformation processes. Hydrogen technology is one example of the close relationship between research and education and training. This is an area in which, alongside the research we are carrying out, we have joined forces with BIBB to investigate the ‘future skills’ required of a qualified workforce.”

Dr. Frank Appel, CEO Deutsche Post DHL Group

"With around 590,000 employees around the globe, including 230,000 in Germany, Deutsche Post DHL Group is one of the world’s largest employers. A company is only as good as its people, and vocational training as well as further education are integral to our company culture. Especially in these ever-changing times, building the employability and future-readiness of young talent is more important than ever. To secure a skilled workforce we need to further invest in the development of innovative educational concepts. This is why businesses, policy makers, social partners, education and training providers need to put their forces together and enhance the attractiveness of vocational education and training for young talent. Together, we can make them fit for the future."

Prof. Dr. Friedrich Hubert Esser, President of the BIBB

"After more than two years of Corona, the desire for personal exchange and networking is great. Vocational education and training needs science-policy-practice communication, directly and in presence. The BIBB Congress offers the ideal platform for this."

Prof. Dr. Dirk Messner, President of the German Environment Agency

“The social and ecological transformation requires well-trained skilled workers with competencies in the area of sustainability. Vocational education and training has a key function to fill in this regard. It brings people up to speed to tackle the tasks of the future and thus makes a major contribution to shaping the transformation in a socially compatible way.”

Sabine Pfeiffer, Professor of Sociology at the University of Erlangen-Nuremberg

“Vocational education and training is a future-proof and innovative institutional system which reacts more dynamically and more compatibly than the higher education sector to new requirements on the labour market. It also provides possibilities to learn through practice from the first day on. VET needs more systematic support. Company-based training staff and vocational schools need greater resources to face up to the transformative challenges of the future.”

Thomas Leubner, Siemens AG

“The economy is currently undergoing a very dynamic change. New challenges are arising because of new digital technologies, altered business models and necessary sustainable solutions. In order to remain relevant in future, dual training needs to become more flexible in order to rapidly adjust to these forthcoming requirements. The attractiveness of VET for talented young people must be significantly enhanced if the skilled worker gap is to be closed. Societal consensus and joint action on the part of policy makers, the social partners, companies, and education and training organisations will be necessary for this purpose.”

Dr. Rainer Nägele, Institute Director at Fraunhofer Institute for Industrial Engineering IAO

"We live in a time when the speed in which the amounts of technological innovations are developed exceeds our ability to adapt these. The use of technology combined with innovative educational concepts is a central lever to keep that gap as small as possible."

Andreas Ehlert, President of the Düsseldorf Chamber of Crafts and Trades

“Vocational education and training is more important than it has ever been. In order to deal with the tasks we face over the coming years, we will primarily require qualified skilled workers who have been trained within the dual system. At the same time, the demands made of modern training are changing ever more rapidly. Policy makers, researchers and trade and industry all need to pull together and define the right direction of travel for progressive and future-proof VET.”

Elke Hannack, Deputy Chair of the German Confederation of Trade Unions (DGB)

“Despite the skilled worker shortage, only about two thirds of young people interested in entering training actually go on to do so. This makes it clear just how much potential lies in the acquisition of trainees. For this reason, we require a training guarantee financed on a pay-as-you-go basis. We also need a systematic transition between school and work accompanied by more effective vocational orientation programmes and a better quality in training itself.”

Prof. Dr. Hubert Ertl, Vice President and Director of Research of the BIBB

"The topics of sustainability and digitisation are currently being dealt with intensively in VET research. The BIBB Congress aims to take up some of the important strands of this debate and to discuss them with the research community. This will take place both in the scientific impulses and in the discursive formats of the Thinking Spaces."

Karin Prien, President of the Standing Conference of the Ministers of Education and Cultural Affairs

“Vocational education and training is key to personal development and to participation, and enables people to assume social, economic and ecological responsibility for helping to shape the world of work and society. Strong VET is needed in order to tackle the major societal transformation processes which lie ahead. VET makes a significant contribution to the employability of skilled workers and to Germany’s ability to innovate. The societal integration of broad target groups helps maintain social and economic stability in our liberal democracy.”

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