More reputation for the dual system – Professor Esser spoke in Brussels
"We need to further develop vocational training and academic education on an equal footing!", BIBB President Professor Esser emphasised when speaking at a conference in Brussels. In addition to the prospects, he highlighted in his speech the characteristics and performance capability of the dual system.
Speaking before an international audience of political decision makers, experts and other interested parties, Professor Esser said that countries featuring dual vocational education and training systems, such as Germany, Austria and Switzerland, excel when compared with the rest of Europe; they exhibit economically powerful crafts and trades businesses and SMEs, significantly lower youth unemployment rates, considerable export strength and a high value added per capita. The President of the German Federal Institute for Vocational Education and Training (BIBB) traced this back to the unique features of the German dual system of vocational education and training: in addition to the close co-operation between the state and industry and the acceptance of national standards, he highlighted learning in the work process and the qualified teachers and trainers, including the master craftsman. Moreover, he said, Germany profits from institutionalised research and advisory services. "And this includes the BIBB."
Esser said that the fact that the industry and the state jointly guarantee the provision of vocational education and training in Germany has an international model function. 450,000 businesses provide vocational education and training and bear more than 70 per cent of the training costs. Moreover, he said, vocational education and training is a "cost-effective investment" for businesses. It keeps knowledge at the company up to date, ensures tailored skills, creates the personnel required for the future and minimises staff turnover.
Professor Friedrich Hubert Esser: "We need to further develop vocational training and academic education on an equal footing!"
In Esser's opinion, ensuring the skilled labour supply constitutes the central challenge for the industry and the crafts. Yet even though more and more young people choose to study, one must not speak of an "academisation craze", he said. "We need good people in all fields. So it is obvious: We need to further develop vocational training and academic education on an equal footing!" This, he added, is also important because the digitalisation of the world of work requires new occupational qualifications.
His presentation was a keynote speech at the conference "Jugendarbeitslosigkeit in der EU – Berufliche Bildung als Chance für Wirtschaft und Gesellschaft?" (Youth unemployment in the EU – Vocational education and training as an opportunity for industry and society?) at the Brussels representation of the German Federal State of Rhineland-Palatinate. The conference was hosted by Eveline Lemke, Minister of Economy for the Federal State of Rhineland-Palatinate, and Ralf Hellrich, Managing Director of the Chamber of Crafts of the Palatinate.