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The Chamber of Skilled Crafs Karlsruhe and China: Exchange of apprentices, dual VET and examinations

In this interview, Dr. Patrick Jakob, head of the Educational Academy of the Chamber of Skilled Crafts Karlsruhe, talks about their cooperation with Chinese partners. Together, they promote the development of dual vocational training structures in China and the international exchange of apprentices. In the discussion, we explore the challenges and opportunities arising from this collaboration – from action-oriented exams to electromobility.

The interview was conducted on October 11, 2024.

What is the significance of skilled crafts and vocational training in China?

PJ: First of all, thank you for the opportunity to conduct this interview. Skilled crafts have a special significance in China, particularly due to the dual training system. In China, education is purely school-based, whereas dual training stands out in skilled crafts due to the combination of company, vocational school, and inter-company training. The practical skills are especially deepened during inter-company training, which is of particular interest to the Chinese side.

SG: So, your focus is really on dual training and how it could work in China?

PJ: Exactly. The challenge is to transfer this system to the Chinese context.

Minister-president Kretschmann in China in 2015. Photo: Chamber of Skilled Crafts Karlsruhe

Dr. Patrick Jakob, Foto: HWK Karlsruhe
Dr. Patrick Jakob, Foto: HWK Karlsruhe

Dr. Patrick Jakob,
Head of the Educational Academy of the Chamber of Skilled Crafts Karlsruhe

How did the cooperation come about, and what are your goals with it?

PJ: The cooperation dates back to 2006. There has been a long-standing partnership between the Ministry of Education, Youth, and Sports of Baden-Württemberg and China. In 2014, the then and current Prime Minister of Baden-Württemberg, Winfried Kretschmann, signed an agreement for vocational cooperation. In 2015, the non-profit association “German-Chinese Friendship Circle for the Promotion of Cooperation in Vocational Education” was founded. Its members are active and former members of the education authority. The name is somewhat cumbersome, but the goal is clear: to intensify cooperation in the field of vocational education. There are regular expert visits, vocational education congresses, and an exchange of apprentices from both countries. The aim is to present the dual training system and adapt it to local conditions in China. In 2014, the Chamber of Skilled Crafts Karlsruhe was appointed the leading organization for skilled crafts in Baden-Württemberg for this international cooperation. In 2015 our then chief executive signed a formal agreement on the topic. In this, we declared, together with the German-Chinese Friendship Circle, our readiness to organize internships for selected apprentices and support them here on-site. The signing ceremony took place in China. This was the starting signal for our commitment as the Chamber of Skilled Crafts.

Representatives of the Chamber of Skilled Crafts Karlsruhe and of the German-Chinese Friendship Circle” in China in 2019 Photo: Chamber of Skilled Crafts Karlsruhe

SG: So far, the apprentices have mainly come from China to Germany. Is there also a plan for German apprentices to go to China?

PJ: Yes, so far it has been more one-sided. Chinese apprentices have come to us, but there is definitely a plan to expand the cooperation in the other direction.

What were the key milestones in the cooperation after the start in 2015?

PJ: The signing of the agreement was in 2015, and then it took some preparatory work. The first major project was in 2017 when we organized an apprentice exchange in the field of automotive technology. We contacted our member companies to ask them to host Chinese apprentices for three months. At first, it wasn’t easy because many companies were skeptical. However, there was great interest on the Chinese side. In China, there was an extensive selection process in which the practical skills and English language abilities of the participants were tested. Finally, 15 apprentices were selected, who came to Germany from September to December. They worked in our member companies, spent one week at a vocational school, and one week with us at the Educational Academy for inter-company training. This allowed them to experience all aspects of dual training. In the aftermath, I spoke with all the internship companies and received consistently positive feedback. The consensus was: “We would do this again immediately. It was a great experience!”

Selection Panel for the exchange of apprentices in 2017. Photo: Chamber of Skilled Crafts Karlsruhe

SG: That sounds like a fantastic project! How did things proceed after the apprentice exchange?

PJ: In 2019, we visited China again to build on the previous projects. We visited several schools and found that the Chinese side was also interested in our examination system, especially in the journeyman’s examination. The Chinese place great value on certificates and examinations. This led to the desire to introduce an exam modeled on the German system in China. The COVID-19 pandemic forced us to pause visits, which we bridged with video conferences. In these, I explained, for example, the special features of a German examination committee, which consists of employers and employees and operates independently.

Then, in 2023, when travel was possible again, we resumed the initiative and traveled to Beijing. There among other topics we discussed an examiner trianing programm. In the summer of 2024 this became reality: Six vocational school teachers from China came to our Educational Academy, where they were trained for three days and gained first-hand insights into the German examination system from the chairman of the examination board in automotive technology. During the training, we also showed practical exam components in the workshops to convey how exams are conducted in Germany. On the fourth and final day, we discussed how this system could be implemented in China. The independence of an examination board and the involvement of both employers and employees presented a particular challenge for the Chinese.

Examiner training for Chinese Vocational school teachers in a workshop of the Educational Academy in Karlsruhe in 2024. Photo: Chamber of Skilled Crafts Karlsruhe

SG: Was the topic of “action-oriented exams” also part of your training? After all, the exam format must fit the country’s legal framework.

PJ: Yes, that was a big topic. The advantage is that the model schools we work with are already oriented toward the German training system. These schools are implementing elements of action orientation in their teaching, moving away from traditional teacher-centred instruction.

SG: Is the training at these model schools in China also state-recognized?

PJ: Yes, the training is state-recognized in China, even though it is based on the German system.

How do the international political tensions, such as the classification of China as a “partner, competitor, and systemic rival,” affect your collaboration?

PJ: The discussions, particularly in the wake of the Ukraine war, certainly have an impact. International competition has intensified. However, this competition also offers opportunities, especially regarding innovation and technological progress. It’s important to view these developments in a differentiated way. Even in our committees – such as the board of the Chamber of Skilled Crafts – we have consciously discussed this. The project was indeed viewed critically. However, the prevailing conclusion was that one cannot isolate oneself, and the cooperation also presents opportunities. The people on-site are open, friendly, and welcoming during our visits, and the joint projects are implemented wonderfully.

What hurdles and challenges have you already overcome along the way, and what still remains?

PJ: One challenge is the visa issue. Apprentices from outside the EU normally do not receive a visa for an internship in Germany. Fortunately, the German-Chinese Friendship Circle has maintained good relations here, allowing us to find a solution. Another issue is the language barrier. The Chinese apprentices had basic knowledge of English, but a lot of technical terminology is used in the companies, and not every German skilled craftsman speaks perfect English. However, through practical activities using hands and gestures, we were able to overcome this language barrier.

Environmental protection and sustainability are central issues in skilled crafts. What role do these aspects play in your cooperation with China?

PJ: Environmental protection plays a significant role. A striking example is electromobility, which is being strongly promoted in China. In recent decades, China has prioritized economic growth, but environmental protection and sustainability are now important topics. China is very advanced in electromobility and is pushing its products into the European market. The size of many Chinese cities, with large populations, raises additional questions about how to implement sustainability. Through this, we learn about the topic in new dimensions and different contexts.

How might the cooperation develop in the future?

PJ: We want to further develop the topic of examinations and see how it can be implemented in China. Additionally, we aim to expand the cooperation into other fields, such as precision mechanics.

Infobox: Milestones of the Cooperation

2006: Start of the partnership between the Ministry of Education, Youth, and Sports of Baden-Württemberg and China.

2014: Signing of the agreement on vocational cooperation by the Prime Minister of Baden-Württemberg.
2015: Establishment of the German-Chinese Friendship Circle for the Promotion of Vocational Education by active and former members of the education authority.

2015: The Chamber of Skilled Crafts Karlsruhe is declared the leading organization for skilled crafts in the international sector in Baden-Württemberg and agrees to cooperate.

2017: First major apprentice exchange organized by the Chamber of Skilled Crafts Karlsruhe; Chinese apprentices in German member companies.

2019: Visit by Dr. Patrick Jakob and representatives of the German-Chinese Friendship Circle to Chinese schools; discussion about introducing an exam modeled on the German journeyman’s examination.

2024: Examiner training for Chinese vocational school teachers at the Educational Academy of the Chamber of Skilled Crafts Karlsruhe after the pandemic pause.

What supporters do you have for this cooperation?

PJ: A key partner is the German-Chinese Friendship Circle, which is very well connected in China. It acts as a door opener for schools and political discussions. Financial support is also important. The projects must cover costs and are funded by the Chinese side.

What interests does the Chamber of Skilled Crafts Karlsruhe have in this cooperation?

PJ: We benefit particularly in the field of electromobility from China. In the past, the Chinese learned from us, but now we can also learn from them. In areas like artificial intelligence, smart homes, and digitalization, China is very advanced, and we can benefit from these developments. For example, we can see in China how certain technologies are already being implemented in teaching and what new job fields, which do not yet exist here, are emerging, which we might eventually adopt.

SG: Thank you for the conversation, Patrick! It was very interesting to learn more about your cooperation. I’m excited to see what happens in the future.

PJ: Thank you very much!

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