- 2015Implementation
- 2016Implementation
- 2017Implementation
- 2018Implementation
- 2019Implementation
- 2020Implementation
- 2021Implementation
- 2022Implementation
- 2023Discontinued
Objectives
The aim of these measures is to provide guidance for adults throughout their working life.
Description
The Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) offers a telephone information and guidance service supporting individuals who are considering their further education and qualification options. The telephone guidance service started as a pilot project in 2015-16 to analyse demand for such a service and explore potential success factors in contextual situations in the different Federal States. It became a permanent service in 2017 with an annual funding of EUR 500 000. Since May 2018, telephone advice has been supplemented by the internet portal.
In 2019, approximately 1 200 people per month used the service and received guidance.
In 2020, about 1 200 people per month used the service and received guidance by telephone on their individual continuing education needs and the financial support available. Joint browsing can support the telephone guidance if required. In addition, the internet portal enables independent research and information. Access is barrier-free from Monday to Friday, from 9.00 to 17.00. Deaf and hearing-impaired people have the option of individual guidance on the sign telephone. There is a special file with specific offers for people with migration background.
During the pandemic, many new offers of online CET have appeared. The telephone service provides guidance to select an appropriate offer and give information on possible financial support. In the context of the Employment Protection Act, passed during the pandemic, further education and training during short-time work was promoted. Telephone guidance is given on the eased conditions for employees and employers for participation and reimbursement.
In August 2020, the BMBF published a leaflet on the telephone guidance service.
In 2021, the offer continued and the website was further developed. In particular, online education offers were pointed out and the concerns of people who are on short-time work due to the COVID-19 pandemic were addressed.
The funding for the telephone and online guidance services continued until end of 2022.
In 2023, the telephone and online guidance services were stopped due to discontinuation of funding.
Bodies responsible
- Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF)
Target groups
Learners
- Young people (15-29 years old)
- Learners with migrant background, including refugees
- Learners with disabilities
- Adult learners
- Persons in employment, including those at risk of unemployment
Thematic categories
Supporting lifelong learning culture and increasing participation
Lifelong learning refers to all learning (formal, non-formal or informal) taking place at all stages in life and resulting in an improvement or update in knowledge, skills, competences and attitudes or in participation in society from a personal, civic, cultural, social or employment-related perspective (Erasmus+, Glossary of terms, https://erasmus-plus.ec.europa.eu/programme-guide/part-d/glossary-common-terms). A systemic approach to CVET is crucial to ensure adaptability to evolving demands.
This broad thematic category looks at ways of creating opportunities and ensuring access to re-skilling and upskilling pathways, allowing individuals to progress smoothly in their learning throughout their lives with better permeability between general and vocational education and training, and better integration and compatibility between initial and continuing VET and with higher education. Individuals should be supported in acquiring and updating their skills and competences and navigating easily through education and training systems. Strategies and campaigns that promote VET and LLL as an attractive and high-quality pathway, providing quality lifelong guidance and tailored support to design learning and career paths, and various incentives (financial and non-financial) to attract and support participation in VET and LLL fall into this thematic category as well.
This thematic category also includes many initiatives on making VET inclusive and ensuring equal education and training opportunities for various groups of learners, regardless of their personal and economic background and place of residence – especially those at risk of disadvantage or exclusion, such as persons with disabilities, the low-skilled and low-qualified, minorities, migrants, refugees and others.
This thematic sub-category refers to providing the possibility for individuals who are already in the labour market/in employment to reskill and/or acquire higher levels of skills, and to ensuring targeted information resources on the benefits of CVET and lifelong learning. It also covers the availability of CVET programmes adaptable to labour market, sectoral or individual up- and reskilling needs. The sub-category includes working with respective stakeholders to develop digital learning solutions supporting access to CVET opportunities and awarding CVET credentials and certificates.
This thematic sub-category refers to providing high-quality lifelong learning and career guidance services, including making full use of Europass and other digital services and resources.
This thematic sub-category refers to making VET pathways and programmes inclusive and accessible for all. It concerns measures and targeted actions to increase access and participation in VET and lifelong learning for learners from all vulnerable groups, and to support their school/training-to-work transitions. It includes measures to prevent early leaving from education and training. The thematic sub-category covers measures promoting gender balance in traditionally ‘male’ and ‘female’ professions and addressing gender-related and other stereotypes. The vulnerable groups are, but not limited to: persons with disabilities; the low-qualified/-skilled; minorities; persons of migrant background, including refugees; people with fewer opportunities due to their geographical location and/or their socioeconomically disadvantaged circumstances.
Subsystem
Further reading
Country
Type of development
Cedefop, & ReferNet. (2025). Telephone and online guidance service: Germany. In Cedefop, & ReferNet. (2025). Timeline of VET policies in Europe (2024 update) [Online tool].
https://www.cedefop.europa.eu/en/tools/timeline-vet-policies-europe/search/28132