German-Israeli Programme for Cooperation in Vocational Education and Training
The German-Israeli Programme for Cooperation in Vocational Education and Training (Israel Programme) is a bilateral cooperation and funding programme between the Israeli Ministry of Economics and the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF). Since 2013, the National Agency “Education for Europe” at the Federal Institute for Vocational Education and Training (NA at BIBB) has been the executive body implementing the programme on behalf of the BMBF.
Although the facts and circumstances and general conditions governing vocational education and training in the two countries are different, both sides are able to provide mutual proposals and learn from each other. Cooperation within the German-Israeli Programme offers an opportunity for this to take place. Technical, economic and social developments mean that VET in both Israel and Germany faces similar challenges. These include a shortage of skilled workers, permeability between higher education and vocational education and training, inclusion and increasing the attractiveness of VET. For this reason, Germany and Israel are working together within the scope of the German-Israeli Programme for Cooperation in Vocational Education and Training.
The objective of the Israel Programme is to deliver impetuses in both countries for the further development of vocational education and training at various levels. In addition to this and in the knowledge of what has happened in the past, it aims to help generate content for German-Israeli relations of the present day.
The programme opens up opportunities for VET staff, VET experts and trainees from the two countries to:
- acquire technical knowledge from each other;
- develop and pilot innovative approaches in vocational education and training;
- experience the everyday reality of life in the respective other foreign country;
- gain a deeper mutual understanding.
Since 2011, this cooperation has been based on a government agreement on industry-led research and development and initial and continuing vocational education and training.