Instruments
Various instruments are available for providing system consulting services for countries. The selection of instruments and their adaptation to the country-specific demands take place in co-operation with the stakeholders.
The BIBB has been successfully supporting reform processes in the educational systems of other countries for many years. To this end, it uses various instruments. These are selected and adapted in close co-operation with the stakeholders. The following instruments have proven particularly successful in providing international consulting services:
System consultancy can pertain also to issues of vocational education and training research. Here, the BIBB provides visiting researchers from the respective countries with the opportunity of familiarising themselves with instruments and procedures. Frequently requested topics include the early detection of qualification requirements and the ascertainment of the willingness of businesses to provide vocational education and training. The BIBB subsequently provides advice and support in adapting the procedures to the conditions in the respective country.
The BIBB welcomes delegations and visiting groups from the respective countries. The visitors are provided with demand-oriented information about the German dual system of vocational education and training. In addition to lectures and discussions with experts, visits to chambers and businesses providing vocational education and training may be organised in individual cases.
The BIBB invites foreign experts and executives for study visits in Germany. These study visits provide an understanding of the German dual system of vocational education and training and create a thorough basis of information for the consulting process. Frequently requested topics include the development and implementation of dual vocational education and training structures as well as the examination system. During a study visit, the experts and executives familiarise themselves with stakeholders and institutions and visit these on-site. These can include the BIBB, businesses, vocational colleges, central training facilities as well as chambers and associations.
System consultancy through the BIBB includes workshops and seminars on various aspects of the dual system of vocational education and training. Depending on the topic, the relevant stakeholders of vocational education and training in the respective countries are included. Depending on the agreement, this service can focus on the imparting of knowledge or on the joint development of products. Examples of such products include vocational education and training reports, training regulations and implementation guidelines for in-company vocational training. Sometimes, these workshops and seminars are organised and carried out in co-operation with German vocational education and training stakeholders on-site (for example, German Chamber of Commerce Abroad (AHK), German Society for International Co-operation (GIZ)).
The BIBB offers training courses for mentors and multipliers. These support the process of reforming the vocational education and training system in the respective country. Topics that are particularly high in demand include governance through social partners, development of national occupational standards, vocational education and training standards and examination standards as well as co-operation between learning venues. The BIBB moreover offers training sessions, in particular coaching for executives. Upon request, the BIBB provides a range of informative literature or helps in its procurement (e.g. translations of training regulations).
The BIBB uses on-site analyses and desktop analyses to ascertain the manner in which vocational education and training has so far been implemented in the respective countries. These analyses can help to derive important information and suggestions for structuring the system consulting services. For example, they yield information about the relationship between the relevant stakeholders as well as about the consistency between the legal provisions and the practical implementation of vocational education and training.