By attending the German-Asian Forum on Vocational Education & Training, the Prime Minister of Sri Lanka, Dr. Harini Amarasuriya, and the Minister for Education and Skills of Buthan, Yeezang De Thapa, demonstrated their commitment to fostering close cooperation between Asian and German training systems and markets. Also taking part in the forum were ambassadors from Bhutan, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Vietnam, the Consul General from India as well as embassy officials from Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand.
Friedrich Hubert Esser, President of the Federal Institute for Vocational Education and Training (BIBB):
"The German-Asian Forum on Vocational Education & Training will strengthen international collaboration in support of future-oriented, competitive and innovative VET and skilled worker recruitment. The sharing of knowledge, experience and best practice fosters joint strategies and solutions for the purpose of meeting the global challenges facing VET on a partnership basis. The private sector ensures the sustainable success of international skilled worker mobility with tailored qualifications and fairly structured recruitment conditions. iMOVE, an initiative of the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) based at the Federal Institute for Vocational Education and Training, is also committed to this."
The event included panel discussions involving Asian and German participants from the areas of policymaking and the education sector as well as German companies with an export focus. Key-topics included needs-based initial and continuing vocational education and training (VET) in Asia and fair skilled worker migration for the German labour market, in each case with support from the German education sector. Other focus areas addressed the advancement of digitalisation and the growing urgency to deliver relevant competencies. Discussions also covered job training measures in environmental and climate disciplines such as renewable energy, water treatment and waste management.
