Equality of Opportunity in Education and Training - Federal Ministry for Education and Research and Institute for Vocational Training - Germany

Federal Ministry for Education and Research (Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung)

In 1998, the Federal Ministry for Education, Science, Research and Technology was renamed the Federal Ministry for Education and Research. Its functions include:

1. coordinating and legislating in the area of vocational education and further training;
2. legislating jointly with the Länder for the promotion of training and its finances;
3. regulating the overall constitutions of higher education;
4. development and building of new university buildings;
5. promoting the sciences and international exchange; and,
6. educational planning and research.

It has conducted several initiatives to mainstream gender into its functions in education and vocational training, such as  :

1. the promotion of women in training, sciences and research;
2. measures to provide women's opportunities in the sciences, research and technologies;
3. an international woman's technical and cultural university;
4. women in the information society;
5. the improvement of training and occupational opportunities in IT; Women on the Net; and,
6. the establishment of competence centres, networks and databases.

Federal Institute for Vocational Training Bündesinstitut für Berufsbildung

The Institute was established in 1970 under the provisions of the Vocational Training Act (BBiG). Its present legal basis is the Vocational Training Promotion Act (BerBiFG).