Participants of UNEVOC TVET Leadership Programme visit BIBB pilot project

BIBB in its function as UNEVOC-Centre supports the UNEVOC TVET Leadership Programme by facilitating a study visit to the training site "Berufskolleg an der Lindenstraße in Cologne“. There, the BIBB pilot project "FOENAKO - Promotion of sustainability competence in vocational training in the retail sector" is carried out in cooperation between the TVET school, several companies and their trainees under the national framework of "TVET for sustainable development“.

The UNEVOC TVET Leadership Programme addresses the three key elements of leaders' ability to drive change: strategic knowledge (vision for change), thematic knowledge (knowledge for change) and leadership and management skills (skills to drive change) in 9 modules over the course of 10 days.

The demand for TVET in the context of the transition to green economies and societies, and the scaling up of efforts to take forward climate change adaptation and mitigation is growing. TVET has a vital role to play in developing the knowledge, skills and competencies of the young people and adults to help them take full advantage of job opportunities, support the development of sustainable and localized solutions and engage in sustainable work practices and entrepreneurial activities. These steps are essential if TVET wants to contribute to the creation of sustainable societies. In order to respond to these demands, TVET institutions need to be oriented to these developments and understand the ‘what’, ‘why’, ‘how’ of greening TVET for low-carbon and climate resilient societies.

In light of the ongoing international debates on "Greening TVET“ and "Sustainability of TVET“ the study visit was organized to learn about the application of sustainability integration in TVET training in Germany. In the example of FOENAKO, to learn about the development of sustainability competence in the retail profession. Against this background, there has been a direct link to the leadership programme modules on "Greening TVET“ and "Work-based learning systems“.

FOENAKO is a pilot project in the BMBF funded programme "Vocational Education and Training for Sustainable Development 2015-2019“ headed by BIBB. The programme contributes to the German imlementation of the UNESCO Global Action Programme. The project FOENAKO focuses on vocational training and the skills required for the sustainable development of educational staff and trainees in the retail sector. The focus is on the following objectives:

• Integrating sustainability into situational teaching and learning arrangements for retail professions in a comprehensive way;
• Implementing sustainable thinking and action in the operational practice of retail trade;
• Holistically qualifying educational personnel (teachers, trainers, lecturers, instructors) for sustainability in the retail sector;
• Using digital media for individual and cooperative learning on sustainability issues in a diverse and integrative way (everywhere on any device);
• Enabling the transfer of FOENAKO products to other professions and target groups (both from the point of view of consumers and producers);

The FOENAKO project was introduced by Barabara Hemkes, Head of Division "Innovations in Continuing Training, Permeability, Pilot Projects“ at BIBB, Heinz Hagel, Project Manager FOENAKO and teacher at Berufskolleg and der Lindenstraße, Arndt Gartzke, teacher at Berufskolleg and der Lindenstraße and three trainees from the company "REWE“ being involved in the project. Furthermore Helga Berg, Federal Ministry of Education and Research, and being in charge of the pilot project also joined the study visit of the UNEVOC delegation.

The trainees taking part in the joint session received a certificate of appreciation by UNESCO-UNEVOC.