Die binationale Berufsausbildung im bayerisch-tschechischen Grenzraum - ein Zukunftsmodell für Nachbarstaaten?

"In 2012, a cross-border vocational training programme was introduced in the Czech-German border region, providing Czech students of the vocational school in Domazlice with additional vocational training at the German school in Cham. The programme complements the school-based system in the Czech Republic with additional courses and practical experience of the dual training model of Germany. Additional training modules include vocation-specific courses at a German school, additional German language classes, and internships in Bavarian companies. Upon successful completion of the programme, the students are awarded an official certificate by the German Chamber of Industry and Commerce (IHK). The chamber is the authority responsible for managing the quality of the vocational education and training system as well as conducting examinations and awarding standardised vocation-specific certificates for the occupations concerned. The programme is carried out in cooperation by the vocational school in Domazlice, the vocational school in the district of Cham, the IHK Regensburg for Upper Palatinate/Kelheim, the Employment Agency Schwandorf, and the district of Cham. The programme is evaluated by the Institute for Employment Research (IAB) and the University of Bamberg. The present evaluation study was carried out between May and September 2017 as part of a master's thesis. It aims to investigate to what extent students benefit from the programme, identify potential improvements based on experience of the actors involved, and shed light on the importance of the programme for the cross-border labour market. The broader scope of the study is to identify to what extent the programme under study is applicable in other border regions and may serve as a future model for binational vocational training projects. To answer these questions, we both analysed available quantitative labour market data and conducted face-to-face interviews with students and teachers at the vocational schools in Cham and Domazlice as well as with Bavarian employers and other institutions involved. The central result of the study is that both trainees and employers profit from the cross-border project. For trainees, undergoing additional vocational training in Germany and acquiring an official IHK certificate offers new employment opportunities on the German side of the border, and enhances their chances in the Czech labour market at the same time. For employers, the certification of vocational training makes it easier to identify and exploit the available potential in the labour market. This concerns not only the employers in Bavaria, but also German firms in the Czech Republic that may now recruit qualified specialists with an acquainted IHK certificate. Moreover, the programme fosters cultural exchange between the two nations. Although our study highlights some potential for improvement, the programme overall appears promising to counteract skill shortages in the Czech-German border region and may also serve as a future model for other countries." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))