- 2015Implementation
- 2016Implementation
- 2017Implementation
- 2018Implementation
- 2019Implementation
- 2020Implementation
- 2021Implementation
- 2022Implementation
Background
Against the background of increasing globalisation, VET learners need skills to work in international contexts. Since 2005, the Vocational Training Act (BBiG) supports explicitly international mobility as part of the apprenticeship. National and regional targets have been set. The National Agency at the Federal Institute for Vocational Education and Training (NA at BIBB) is implementing the Erasmus+ programme for VET, following the Leonardo da Vinci programmes. The NA at BIBB is also monitoring the overall international mobility of IVET-learners in Germany.
Objectives
The support measures want to give more VET learners the opportunity to make an internship or part of their apprenticeship in another country. The aim of the measures is to provide young people with worldwide learning experiences in VET and thus to address the need of globally operating companies for skilled workers with international professional competence and at the same time to increase the attractiveness of VET.
Description
Outgoing mobility:
- Erasmus+: as shown in the Study on Mobility (NA at BIBB, 2018), Erasmus+ funds about half of all outgoing mobilities of VET learners. Since 2015, Erasmus+ has also been promoting the internationalisation of VET learning venues through accreditation of vocational schools and companies for a simplified participation in the VET mobility programme.
- VETworldwide: to expand IVET mobility outside the EU, BMBF and NA at BIBB initiated the programme VETworldwide (AusbildungWeltweit) end of 2017. The new programme provides an attractive supplement to Erasmus+ for VET mobilities outside the EU.
- Bilateral exchange programmes: the National Agency Erasmus+ for VET (NA at BIBB) is also coordinating a bilateral VET exchange programme with Israel. There are also bilateral (cross-border) programmes for example with Germany’s neighbours, like ProTandem (the German-French-Office for exchange in VET) and DFJW/OFAJ (Franco-German Youth Office) with France, or similar programmes with the Czech Republic, the Netherlands and Poland, as well as with Greece.
- Chamber mobility project: the chambers mobility coaches (initiative 'Training without borders', funded by BMWK) are promoting mobility among IVET learners and training companies as well.
The NA at BIBB is the main source of information on outgoing VET mobility in Germany and provides relevant information through its website, social media, events and publications. The...
Outgoing mobility:
- Erasmus+: as shown in the Study on Mobility (NA at BIBB, 2018), Erasmus+ funds about half of all outgoing mobilities of VET learners. Since 2015, Erasmus+ has also been promoting the internationalisation of VET learning venues through accreditation of vocational schools and companies for a simplified participation in the VET mobility programme.
- VETworldwide: to expand IVET mobility outside the EU, BMBF and NA at BIBB initiated the programme VETworldwide (AusbildungWeltweit) end of 2017. The new programme provides an attractive supplement to Erasmus+ for VET mobilities outside the EU.
- Bilateral exchange programmes: the National Agency Erasmus+ for VET (NA at BIBB) is also coordinating a bilateral VET exchange programme with Israel. There are also bilateral (cross-border) programmes for example with Germany’s neighbours, like ProTandem (the German-French-Office for exchange in VET) and DFJW/OFAJ (Franco-German Youth Office) with France, or similar programmes with the Czech Republic, the Netherlands and Poland, as well as with Greece.
- Chamber mobility project: the chambers mobility coaches (initiative 'Training without borders', funded by BMWK) are promoting mobility among IVET learners and training companies as well.
The NA at BIBB is the main source of information on outgoing VET mobility in Germany and provides relevant information through its website, social media, events and publications. The IBS information service provides IVET-learners individual information and guidance, connects individuals to regional or sectoral counsellors for further in-depth guidance on mobility opportunities and in finding financial support and an internet database for programmes supporting VET learning abroad. Both actors are funded by the BMBF and implemented by the NA-BIBB.
The total number of IVET learners staying abroad consistently grew from 2010 to 2017. Whereas in 2010 approximately 17 000 IVET-learners were staying abroad (mobility rate of 2.4%), the number increased to more than 30 000 IVET-learners until 2017, reaching a new mobility record of 5.3% of all IVET-learners. In 2018: 22 770 IVET learners participated in a transnational mobility funded by Erasmus+, compared to 7 515 in 2008, tripling in 10 years. Some training occupations have already reached the benchmark of 10% mobility, such as the industrial sales manager.
Incoming mobility:
To foster incoming mobility of apprentices, the Federal Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs (BMAS) and the Federal Employment Agency (BA) funded from 2013 to 2020 a special programme to promote the vocational mobility of about 17 000 young Europeans (18-27 years old) interested in vocational training in Germany (MobiPro-EU: Sonderprogramm 'Förderung der beruflichen Mobilität von ausbildungsinteressierten Jugendlichen aus Europa').
In 2019, the Erasmus+ VET mobilities reached a peak of 33 000 learners taking part in mobility.
The MobiPro-EU programme to promote the in-coming mobility of European apprentices was evaluated and a practitioners’ handbook was published in 2019.
In 2020, the Erasmus+ VET mobilities dropped due to the Brexit and the COVID-19 pandemic. The former Erasmus+ funding period ended in 2020 and the NA at BIBB has relaunched its portal with information and guidelines for the new Erasmus+ funding phase 2021-27.
Through the programme AusbildungWeltweit, around 1 200 learning stays have been funded in more than 40 countries on all continents from 2018 to 2020.
In 2020, new field reports were posted on the IBS/NA-BIBB portal Mein Auslandspraktikum (My internship abroad). These give learning mobility an individual face and a personal story.
Network Training without borders (Berufsbildung ohne Grenzen - BoG): the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWi) extended the funding of mobility coaches of Training without borders from 2020 to 2023. The coaches support small and medium sized enterprises (SME) with face-to-face advice on planning, carrying out and evaluating stays abroad for apprentices. The 35 coaches are located throughout Germany in over 50 chambers of skilled crafts and chambers of commerce and industry and are coordinated by a central office.
The NA at BIBB focused on Internationalisation of VET in its journal Education for Europe No. 31 published in January 2020.
The Erasmus+ VET mobilities further dropped in 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In November 2021, the National Agency called for participation in the new call for the Erasmus+ 2021-27 programme for 2022 and organised an information week in January 2022.
The VETworldwide programme faced constraints caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, leading to a decrease of numbers of participants.
The former Information and Guidance Service for International Mobility in VET (IBS) was restructured in 2021 and is now called Beratungsservice für Auslandsaufenthalte in der Ausbildung’ (support centre for transnational mobility in VET). The centre is funded by BMBF and implemented by NA-BIBB. It launched the portal Mein Auslandspraktikum in 2021, which offers information and guidance to apprentices on internships abroad.
Within the network Training Without Borders, 50 mobility coaches advised and supported companies, apprentices and young professionals in realising stays abroad.
The number of Erasmus+ VET mobilities increased again and a total of 23 758 VET stays abroad were approved in 2022 and are already at 80% of pre-Corona levels from 2020. Further, 227 applications for Erasmus+ accreditation were submitted. After around 400 and 200 applications respectively in the two previous years, the interest in accreditation is also high in the third year of the new Erasmus+ 2021-27.
Until the end of 2022, more than 1 500 stays abroad in over 40 countries on all continents have been approved within the VETworldwide programme. China and the USA were the most popular destinations. An update of the funding guidelines increased the flexibility of funding in the pandemic situation. The NA-BIBB organised a virtual info event on the VETworldwide programme on 24 November 2022 with documentation.
On the portal Mein Auslandspraktikum, a brochure published in 2022 gives all the important information and contacts for organising an internship abroad. It offers guidance in the search for an internship, provides information on funding opportunities and gives tips on preparing for and following up the VET learners’ stay abroad.
The number of mobility coaches of the chambers’ network Training Without Borders increased to 80 in 2022. The coaches are located throughout Germany in over 50 chambers of skilled crafts and chambers of commerce and industry.
BIBB published in 2022 a competence module with specific examples of formulations to help integrate ‘international professional competences’ in German training regulations. This can help to establish stays abroad as a fixed component of a training programme.
The newly developed format Weltwaltz is a pilot project of Buusiness Scouts for Development programme in the field of skilled crafts. Weltwalz offers young craftspeople a simple and financially supported opportunity to gain experience in international cooperation in the target countries (Rwanda, Uganda and South Africa and now also in Georgia).
Bodies responsible
- Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF)
- Erasmus+ National Agency for VET (NA at BIBB)
- Federal Ministry of Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWi) (until December 2021)
- Federal Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs (BMAS)
- Federal Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK)
Target groups
Learners
- Learners in upper secondary, including apprentices
- Adult learners
Education professionals
- Guidance practitioners
Entities providing VET
- Companies
- VET providers (all kinds)
Other stakeholders
- National, regional and local authorities
Thematic categories
European and international dimensions of VET
This thematic category covers both European and international cooperation in initial and continuing VET, aimed at promoting EU VET systems as a European education and training area and making it a reference for learners in neighbouring countries and across the globe.
Expanding opportunities and increasing participation of VET learners, young and adult, and staff in international mobility for learning and work, including apprenticeship and virtual and blended mobility, account for most initiatives in this thematic category.
Apart from established and financially supported EU cooperation, VET opens up to cooperation and promotion of European values and national practices beyond the EU, which is becoming a trend. This thematic category also encompasses internationalisation strategies, transnational cooperation projects and initiatives – including those where joint VET programmes, examinations and qualifications are developed – and participation in international skills competitions that promote the image of VET. Using international qualifications – awarded by legally established international bodies or by a national body acting on behalf of an international body – in the national VET systems and recognising them towards national qualifications is also in focus.
This thematic sub-category refers to providing opportunities for, implementing and increasing rates of, learning mobility of VET and adult learners and staff, including virtual mobility, apprenticeship placements, long-duration mobility and mobility to third countries, in line with national regulations, collective agreements and health and safety provisions. It also includes the provision of information about mobility, support structures and tools, strengthening the quality of mobility experiences and recognition of learning outcomes acquired abroad, including with the use of relevant EU tools, e.g. memoranda of understanding or learning agreements (ECVET elements).
European priorities in VET
Osnabrück Declaration
- European Education and Training Area and international VET