Ute Hippach-Schneider is a researcher and project manager at BIBB, the Federal Institute for Vocational Education and Training in Bonn, Germany.

A qualified lawyer, Ute Hippach-Schneider joined BIBB in 2001 after working at the Federal Press Office. Drawing that experience, she established a German newsletter for vocational education and training (VET) in Europe, whilst also working as a researcher on the issue of Qualification Frameworks in the “International Monitoring and Benchmarking / European VET Policy” section at BIBB. Currently she is conducting a research project that focuses on recruitment at middle qualification level from the employers´ perspective. She has been the ReferNet Coordinator since 2005 and the ReferNet Representative for Germany since 2007. (Further information on ReferNet Germany: www.refernet.de)