Federal Institute for Vocational Training (BIBB) - Federal Republic of Germany

Source: Federal Institute for Vocational Training (BIBB)

The Federal Institute for Vocational Training (BIBB) is a nationally and internationally recognized centre of expertise for research and development in the field of initial and continuing vocational training.

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), which describes the Institute´s statutory mandate. The aims of its research, development and counselling activities are to identify the future functions of vocational training, to promote innovation in vocational training at national and international level and to develop new and practically viable solutions for use in initial and continuing training.

The work of the Institute, which is geared to vocational training delivery, focuses on ten task areas:

• Sociological principles of vocational training
• Key and structural data on vocational training
• Qualification research in the field of vocational training
• Teaching and learning in vocational training
• Personnel engaged in vocational training
• Learning venues for vocational training
• International research and development in the field of vocational training
• Vocational training standards and qualification development
• Education and training technology
• Education economics and organization

Through its work in these ten task areas, the Institute is instrumental in

• ensuring that all young people have the opportunity to undergo an initial vocational training which will equip them weIl for the future;
• adapting Germany‘s vocational training system to the needs of the knowledge society;
• continuously updating initial and continuing training, e.g. by developing new vocational qualifications and through quality assurance and quality management systems;
• raising the efficiency and attractiveness of vocational training, eg. by supporting the development and more efficient use of interactive, multimedia systems;
• developing the necessary support to allow high-achievers and low-achievers alike to obtain the highest possible vocational quaIification;
• supporting efforts to enhance the transparency and marketability of vocational training in Europe;
• conducting vocational training research to detect correlations between technological and societal change on the one hand and labour market developments on the other, to identify emerging trends in this respect and to analyse their implications for vocational training;
• disseminating the findings of its activities and further refining research methodologies by engaging in cooperation schemes at national and international level to promote the exchange of information and experience and the advancement of vocational training research;
• stimulating and promoting vocational training development at international level by engaging in international projects to advance the reform of vocational training systems;
• developing scenarios for the future development of initial and continuing vocational training;
• helping coordinate an approach to education and training planning which attaches high priority to future viability.

The Institute‘s various tasks are carried out within the framework of four departments catering for a total of 17 areas of activity plus the organizational units directly accountable to the President and a central services department. The Institute currently has a staff of approximately 400.

The Institute is run by three statutory bodies: the Board, the Standing Committee and the President.

The Board is a forum for cooperation bringing together, on an equal footing and with equal voting rights, the representatives of the four societal forces which bear responsibility for vocational training in Germany, namely employers‘ federations, trade unions, the governments of the Lander (i.e. the 16 federal states) and the Federal Government.

The Board adopts the Institute‘s research programme and budget. lt advises the Federal Government on matters of vocational training policy and submits recommendations and position statements intended to promote the regulation, implementation and further development of vocational training. The Board also has a particular responsibility in its being called upon to submit its comments on the draft of the report on vocational training published annually by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research.

The Standing Committee conducts the business of the Board in the interim between meetings of the latter and carries out the preparatory work for the decision-making process.

The President is responsible for conducting the business of the Institute and represents its interests vis-a´-vis third parties.

Being an agency directly accountable to the Federal Government, the Institute is financed from federal budget funds and is subject to legal supervision exercised on behalf of the Federal Government by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research.

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