ECVET in the (German) Automotive Industry Gabriele Fietz

1. ECVET in the (German) Automotive Industry Gabriele Fietz (Member of the national ECVET expert Group, Germany) Presentation held during the “kick of” workshop of the MAS project Istanbul, January 13, 2012 Gabriele Fietz

2. Where is this automotive plant located? What is the qualification of the engineer? Gabriele Fietz

3. ECVET/Automotive • ECVET contributes to transparency of qualifications • ECVET is based on the learning outcomes approach • ECVET is for assessment, valuation, validation of units of learning outcomes • and • ECVET is for transfer of these learning outcomes acquired in one qualifications system to another • ECVET is for recognition of these learning outcomes ECVET for transparency of qualifications - at transnational level - and at country level Gabriele Fietz

4. ECVET/Automotive • A survey about ECVET in the German Automotive industry • Operated by f-bb (Research institute for VET, Germany) • Funded by the German Ministry for Education and Training (BMBF) in the frame of the DECVET initiative 2007/2011 • Involving partners from the German automotive industry: Audi AG BMW AG Brose Fahrzeugbau GmbH & Co. KGDaimler AG Robert Bosch GmbH Gabriele Fietz

5. ECVET/Automotive • Objectives of • From the view of companies of the automotive sector the study • … identifies opportunities and difficultiesof an implementation of ECVET in the German dual VET and qualifications system • …analyses ECVET specifications as regards pracitcal requirements of companies • … provides proposals for pilot projects towards the political sector and VET experts. Gabriele Fietz

6. ECVET/Automotive • Methodology of • The sample: • 21 experts • from 5 companies of the German automotive sector • Qualitative research: • desk research • expert interviews • workshop discussions Gabriele Fietz

7. ECVET/Automotive • Requirements towards ECVET • Results of a questioning in the starting phase of EDGE showed: in this early stage ECVET was already highly accepted by representatives of the German automotive sector. • In their view, ECVET should … • …promote cross border mobility of learners • …promote flexibility of (initial)vocational trainig pathways • …promote permeability between sub systems of the German VET and qualifications system. Gabriele Fietz

8. ECVET/Automotive Relevance of these requirements for the five questioned automotive companies Gabriele Fietz

9. ECVET/Automotive • „Dual Use“ of ECVET • Promoting cross border Mobility • Supporting national reforms of the VET system • Crucial element for both functions: ECVET provides assessment […] and recognition of Units of learning outcomes • Attractiveness for VET reforms: More flexibility of IVET • Duration of qualifications pathways can be adapted to learners‘ and companys‘ needs • Swithching of learners from one qualifications pathway to another can be facilitated Gabriele Fietz

10. ECVET/Automotive • Attitude towards Units of Lerning Outcomes • Experts of the 5 automotive companies showed … • …full appreciation of units as a means for structuring qualifications • …reluctant attitude towards „competence“ as part of a unit • Definition of competence needs to be clarified • „Integration of social competences crucial in the automotive sector • Focussing at „occupational competence“ important Gabriele Fietz

11. ECVET/Automotive • Proposals of automotive experts for pilot projects (national, but also at the European level) • ECVET for promoting „occupational competence“ focussing at the topic of size and scope of units • Implementing new ECVET compatible methods of assessment and validation • Transnational piloting of the ECVET process in the automotive sector but also at cross-sectoral level Gabriele Fietz

12. ECVET/Automotive Thank you for your attention! Teşekkür ederim! Contact: gabi.fietz@gmx.net Gabriele Fietz