More than 100 countries interested in German vocational education and training

The German dual system of vocational education and training continues to attract great interest abroad. According to the web statistic, the website of GOVET – German Office for International Cooperation in Vocational Education and Training at the Federal Institute of Vocational Education and Training (BIBB) has been accessed from 106 countries during the first quarter of 2015 alone.

"This is impressive evidence of the worldwide extremely high regard for the German dual system of vocational education and training in particular. The Federal Institute for Vocational Education and Training and the affiliated German Office for International Cooperation represent the quality of vocational education and training made in Germany", emphasises BIBB President Friedrich Hubert Esser. "Since its establishment one and a half years ago, GOVET has achieved a high level of awareness not only in Germany, but worldwide. We are delighted that GOVET is being used as the single point of contact for parties from abroad who are interested in German vocational education and training."

Evaluation of user access data reveals that visitors to the online portal www.govet.international hail from all regions of the globe. Almost all countries in Europe, America and Asia are represented. The highest level of interest comes from Russia, the USA and Brazil. The highest access numbers from amongst the EU countries come from Italy and the Netherlands.

As regards content, the presentations regarding the dual system as well as the strategy of the involved German federal ministries, which is co-ordinated by the "Round Table for International Vocational Education and Training Co-operation", attract particularly high levels of interest. The presentations are available in German, English, Spanish, French and Russian, with Italian and Chinese versions soon to follow. The foreign website visitors show great interest also in the Datenbank Berufsbildungszusammenarbeit (Datenbank BBZ – Database for vocational education and training co-operation). It provides a comprehensive overview of projects and other undertakings of German stakeholders in the field of international vocational education and training co-operation.

The figures deriving from the evaluation of internet access data correspond also to the numerous requests about German vocational education and training submitted to GOVET. So far, requests from and about 116 countries have been processed. The most requests come from Spain, India, China, Columbia and the USA.

GOVET – German Office for International Cooperation in Vocational Education and Training at the Federal Institute for Vocational Education and Training (BIBB) was established in late 2013 as part of the strategy of the Federal Government to provide international VET co-operation services from a single source. GOVET acts as the central German point of contact for domestic and international stakeholders in vocational education and training co-operation and as the administrative arm of the "Round Table for International Vocational Education and Training Cooperation". The "Round Table" organises regular meetings between the most important German stakeholders in vocational education and training co-operation for the purpose of co-ordinating joint activities. Permanent members include several German federal government ministries, institutions and federal state representations that are affiliated to the various departments as well as social partners, chamber organisations and select civil society institutions. GOVET moreover supports the bilateral vocational education and training co-operation agreements concluded by the German Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF).

For more information see www.govet.international

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