The Peer Review, held on 14 and 15 November, focused on the different instruments at the federal government’s level, in Germany, to ensure quality assurance in Continuing vocational education and training (CVET). The Peer Review explored the examples of distance learning, nationally valid further training regulations and quality requirements in Germany’s case of state funding.

The sixth EQAVET Peer Review in 2022 was hosted by the Federal Institute for Vocational Education and Training (BIBB).

Five EQAVET Network members from Austria, Czech Republic, Greece, Hungary and Lithuania acted as peer reviewers.

The Peer Review explored how the German formal continuing vocational education and training (CVET) is on one side regulated at the federal level based on the Vocational Training Act (BBiG) and the Crafts Code (HwO) and on the other side, based on long-established quality assurance standards and procedures.

Peers had the opportunity to get in-depth information about these procedures, namely:

1. The Distance Learning Protection Act (FernUSG)

2. Further training regulations, according to BBiG and HwO

3. The Accreditation and Approval Ordinance for Employment Promotion (AZAV)

4. The Upgrading Training Assistance Act (AFBG)

Discussions explored how these available instruments fit the purpose of quality assurance in CVET and how they can serve as a response to address the three major challenges Germany is facing now (digitalisation, demographic changes and the green transition).

The hosts and peers also exchanged on the difficulties encountered to find the balance between the richness offered by a federal system and the challenge to steer all federal regulations, as well as on how to increase awareness of the existing measures and how to support the end user to navigate through it.

Check out the flash report summarising the main outcomes of the discussion.

Another report with detailed feedback from the peer reviewers will be shared with the host country.