topic Education

JOBSTARTER: Funding programme for more traineeships

The Federal Ministry of Education and Research is supporting the development of a training structure through its JOBSTARTER programme. This programme is already supplying funding for 200 innovative projects in vocational training. A further 43 projects are due to be launched in 2009. All these projects are helping to create additional traineeships in the regions and are offering various measures to support companies which either have no previous experience with training or which have grown weary of providing training. They are making an important contribution to structural development, for example by establishing cross-border training cooperation or launching collaborative training schemes. An additional focus is on projects which test new opportunities under the Vocational Training Act (BBiG).

Programme structure and the volume of funding

JOBSTARTER is making an important contribution to supporting the activities of the National Pact for Career Training and Skilled Manpower Development in Germany. By 2013, the BMBF will have provided the programme with funding worth approximately 125 million euros, including funds from the European Social Fund. JOBSTARTER is being implemented by the programme office at the Federal Institute for Vocational Education and Training (BIBB). In addition, four regional offices in Hamburg, Nürnberg, Berlin and Düsseldorf are providing information at local level on the conditions for funding and are stimulating cooperation between regional projects and stakeholders.

Funding at regional level

JOBSTARTER provides funding for projects which help to create additional in-company traineeships as well as to recruit suitable trainees. Improved cooperation between local stakeholders will strengthen regional responsibility for vocational education and training and at the same time contribute to structural development. Cross-border education cooperation and training collaborations also play an important role - after all, regional development in border regions is no longer purely a national concern. With its nine bordering states, Germany has more neighbours than any other European country. Further detailed information on the programme and its implementation can be found on the Jobstarter website.

Selection of projects

Projects are selected via annual calls for proposals. These are based on the respective current funding regulations. They stipulate the conditions for funding and lay down thematic priorities. JOBSTARTER operates using "funding modules": Applicants can select various combinations of modules for their projects, usually a combination of two or three modules.

Overview: Funding modules for the last call (4th round of funding):

• Analyses of sectors and potential training places
• Training place development
• External training management/measures to accompany training
• Initiating and organizing collaborative training
• Cooperation between school-industry/careers marketing
• Networking
• Establishing foundations/fundraising
• Developing and testing innovative approaches in vocational training

The projects are implemented inter alia by chambers of trade and industry, local and regional institutions, education providers and companies.