Vocational and further Training

The German Chambers of Industry and Commerce make their mark with regard to the high quality of initial and further vocational training through their definitions of standard examination criteria and procedures as well as their experienced voluntary examiners. According to the Vocational Training Act, Chambers of Commerce and Industry are competent bodies for initial vocational training, further training and vocational re-training. The Vocational Training Act defines and regulates the following tasks of the CCIs:

Statutory tasks: ·

• Counselling of trainees and employers involved in the training programme
• Appraising of the training facilities in companies involved in training
• Supervising the execution of training
• Allowing for the reduction and extension of the duration of training periods
• Setting up of an arbitration commission in case of dissent between parties involved in vocational training

Organisational tasks:

• Establishing and managing of the registers of the training contracts
• Organising examinations after finishing initial or further vocational training
• Setting up examination boards to carry out final and intermittent examinations
• Establishing vocational training committees within the chamber

The Vocational Training Contract contains the following data:

• The nature, content and chronological order of the vocational training programme
• The beginning and the end of the training period
• The training courses outside the training establishment
• The duration of daily training hours and annual leave
• The duration of the probationary period
• The amount and form of payment of the wages of a trainee
• The conditions under which the contract of a vocational training can be terminated

Examinations

• The Intermittent Examination is made in order to assess the level the trainee has reached and that will be necessary to be admitted to the final examination.
  
• The Final Examination consists of a test of practical skills (samples of work), a theoretical test (written examinations) and an oral examination.
  
• The Board of Examiners consisting of at least three members representing the employers, the employees, and the vocational school staff (teachers) represents the independent examination committee.
  
• After the examination, the Chamber of Industry and Commerce will hand over The Examination Certificate to the successful trainee.

Temporary stay abroad during the vocational training programme
The regulations regarding vocational training provide the possibility of a stay abroad as an element of one's training. It can be agreed upon on a voluntary basis within the training contract. The duration of the stay abroad can amount to up to a quarter of the full training period. Through training abroad and with foreign partners, the companies are able to make their training more attractive as well as transfer international know-how to their future employees. Financial support is offered by various EU programmes for this purpose.

At the end of their stay abroad, trainees need to document the qualifications and abilities acquired during the stay abroad. In order to facilitate this, the EU offers a "Europass Berufsbildung" (Europass Vocational training). This document contains details about the nature and content of the practical training abroad.

Vocational and further
Training We support entrepreneurs - Qualification is the key to success Qualification and motivation:
These two elements are vital for your company and its success. Processes and procedures can be copied - but not the know-how and competence of your employees. Their skills and capabilities keep enterprises, their goods and their services internationally competitive.

Our department for "Education and Further Training" has an extensive programme of courses making sure that your employees remain adequately qualified. Our involvement nevertheless starts earlier, namely with the vocational training: more than 10,000 apprentices take examinations every year at the CCI Pfalz. This is your guarantee that your junior staff members know their job.

Vocational training is an investment which pays off. Nobody can manufacture your product better or explain your services in a more competent manner than somebody who has learnt the job "hands-on" in your company. We therefore monitor not only the progress of an apprentice, but we support entrepreneurs who want to create new training places for apprentices. We provide information on support programmes and give assistance with applications. Youngsters can access your training offers via our "market place for apprenticeships". If your company is small or highly specialised, we organise a vocational training network. In this way companies "share" an apprentice and we can give him/her access to fields of activities not covered by your company.

We support entrepreneurs:

• when initiating vocational training
• in their search for apprentices through our internet-based market place for apprenticeships
• with the organisation of intermittent and final examinations of their apprentices
• with our advise on further vocational training and by providing seminars and courses