Visit by delegation from East African countries

On 23 May, GOVET welcomed a group of visitors as part of the Federal Government’s guest programme. The information visit to GOVET marked the start of a study visit for VET specialists and managers from East African countries lasting several days. Government representatives were invited as well as chambers of commerce and business representatives who play a key and proactive role in the development of vocational education and training systems in their countries. Institutions represented by the guests included the Departments of Education for Tanzania and Uganda, the Ethiopian Trainees Development and Institutional Capacity Building Directorate and the Kenyan Federation of Master Builders and the Ugandan Directorate of Industrial Training.

In view of the different underlying conditions facing vocational education and training in the home countries, participants were very interested in learning about the German vocational education and training system and in discussing common challenges in the coordination of the initial and continuing education and training system. Participants agreed that the national vocational education and training system had to focus on the needs of business.

The presentation by Philipp Lassig (GOVET) on the German dual education and training system explained the role of political and business stakeholders. Guests were particularly interested in asking about the coordination process and the active involvement of bodies in Germany. In the view of the guests, the aim of the visit by the delegation to provide the stimulus for the support of system development in East African countries, was achieved.

In the second part of the delegation visit, iMOVE facilitated a sharing of views between German initial and continuing education providers and the guests from East Africa. The iMOVE Round Table for East Africa acted as a networking opportunity for the parties from Germany and East Africa and facilitated the direct sharing of information.

Other events on the study visit organised by the Goethe-Institut included visits to companies providing training, the German Central Association of Skilled Trades (ZDH) and a vocational school.