Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle and Education Minister Johanna Wanka are opening the conference “German businesses – Pioneers of the dual system of vocational training abroad” together with Eric Schweitzer, President of the German Association of Chambers of Industry and Commerce. Some 300 participants from the fields of business, vocational training, diplomacy and politics are taking part in the conference tomorrow (24 April) at the Federal Foreign Office.

Worldwide interest in well-trained skilled workers has grown noticeably in recent years. The international discussion of vocational training has focused in part on the German system of dual vocational training. Many German companies are working on vocational training abroad. Their international engagement is increasingly focusing on dual vocational training.

The conference offers German companies, training providers and representatives of foreign embassies in Berlin the opportunity to exchange views in various panel discussions about their experiences with vocational training in different countries. The conference also uses concrete examples to illustrate ways to introduce dual vocational training programmes abroad.