From migration to virtual reality: Five online events to look out for

© ZWH

The 2020 European Vocational Skills Week takes place from 9 to 13 November – but throughout the year, more than 500 associated events are taking place in 34 countries. As the Week this year is taking place with the support of the German Presidency of the Council of the European Union, we’ve picked out five partner events in Germany that showcase the value of vocational education and training to individuals, communities, companies and the economy.

Roadshow-Online: Workshop HandLeVR

The HandLeVR project uses the principle of action-oriented learning to build professional competence and develop a VR application for learning how to paint cars. The resulting VR application also investigates scientific questions regarding the use of VR technologies in vocational training.

The online workshop on 26 November presents the HandLeVR research project and the learning system in the VR paint shop. As well as measures for anchoring the learning application in the training of vehicle painters, the first comprehensive interim results of the project will be presented.

Transfer workshop Digital Advancement of Inter-Company Training

The Special Programme on Digitalisation in Inter-Company Vocational Training Centres is part of the Federal Government’s Digital Strategy and the Federal Ministries of Education and Research umbrella initiative Vocational Education and Training 4.0.

This workshop on 25 November marks the beginning of the cooperation between funding authorities and the beneficiary development and testing projects. Its objective is to develop initial strategies for transferring and disseminating the project findings into the wider field of vocational education and training.

Career opportunities in the skilled crafts and trades – off to practice!

Tablets, 3D scanners, drones and digital measuring and processing devices have long been used in the skilled crafts and trades. The confectioner processes the finest chocolate in 3D printing. In stonemasonry a robot does the rough work, while the masters concentrate on the manual work.

But it’s not only the work processes that have changed – career opportunities and funding opportunities have also increased enormously. Good job prospects, opportunities for further training, flat hierarchies in family-run companies and always something to do – there are many good reasons for training in the skilled crafts and trades. This webinar on 11 November showcases some of those reasons.

NEW VET – Workshop: How vocational training gives your soft skills a new boost

Small workshop – big topic: practice-oriented, dual training promotes soft skills, which are expected to become even more important in the future: skills such as cross-border communication and cooperation, creativity and adaptability. This workshop on 10 November introduces the topic of soft skills. Afterwards, participants can test themselves and join in training sessions to learn how they can improve their soft skills. The winners of the NEW-VET Share Your Story competition are also invited to the workshop, with the three best stories about extraordinary, positive, exemplary experiences in vocational training being rewarded.

Migration and Career Guidance – Challenges for integration in education, work and occupation

A series of lectures and workshops will highlight various aspects of counselling for immigrants in Germany, focusing on their integration in vocational education and work. The event on 6 and 7 November is aimed at career guidance counsellors, offering a practical guide for participants to strengthen their daily work with migrants seeking guidance and support.

It aims to:

• sensitise participants to the situation of migrants and devise appropriate interventions;
• offer networking opportunities;
• offer relevant sources of information (i.e. legal basis, intercultural knowledge);
• deal with the conditions for successful VET and work as well as the challenges for migrants and the respective institutions and companies.