BIBB Head of Department in discussion with Armenian education minister
At the request of the Armenian embassy, Ms Thomann, the head of the international department in the Federal Institute for Vocational Education and Training (BIBB), had the opportunity to present the German dual vocational education and training system and the work of BIBB to the Minister for Education and Science of the Republic of Armenia.
Minister Harutyunyan acknowledged the merits of the German vocational education and Training system, praising its contribution to the fact that young people in Germany make the transition into professional and working life with success.
Despite generally positive economic development in Armenia, there is a growing shortage of skilled workers in the country, caused among other things by the migration of young skilled workers abroad. In order to combat this problem, the Republic of Armenia has recently put in place initial reforms. As part of the Education Development State Programme 2011-2015, a range of international stakeholders such as the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), the European Commission and the European Training Foundation (ETF) were actively involved as consultants.
In his discussion in Berlin with Ms Thomann, Minister Harutyunyan also expressed interest in opportunities for collaboration both bilaterally and at the European level. On the same day (17.10.2018), a meeting between the Minister for Education and Dr Schütte, Secretary of State in the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) had already taken place.