Through stays abroad, both trainees and young skilled personnel prepare themselves for the demands of a globalised economy. The best way to acquire international competencies is a learning and work stay abroad, ideally already during training.

Because of the internationality of the German economy and increasing interest in vocational education and training, in 2013, the German parliament set a national goal that by 2020 at least 10 % of all apprentices have completed a vocational internship abroad.

Training without Borders set up a nationwide, inter-chamber network of mobility coaches which are guiding trainees, young professionals and vocational training personnel and contributing their part to reach the 10% benachmark since 2009.

More than 80 mobility coaches in the participant chambers of crafts and chambers of commerce and industry provide trainees and young skilled workers with advice and support in organizing traineeships abroad. The coordinating office "Training without Borders" supports the network. It has offices at the Central Agency for Continuing Vocational Education and Training in the Skilled Crafts (ZWH) in Düsseldorf (North Rhine-Westphalia) and at the Association of German Chambers of Industry and Commerce (DIHK) in Berlin.

Because of COVID-19, 2020 was a difficult year for everyone, but our mobility coaches managed to organize 760 vocational internships all over the world (2,666 in 2019). This means, that we

 

• sent 523 German trainees for a work stay abroad (1710 in 2019)

 

• hosted 237 foreign apprentices for internships in German companies (956 in 2019).

 

The program "Training without Borders" is promoted by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy.Funding period: 1st Jan. 2016 - 31 Dec. 2023.

The mobility coaches help with all issues to do with traineeships abroad, such as

 

• planning, carrying out and evaluating stays abroad and their financial administration;

 

• coordinating the stay among companies, vocational schools, participants and chambers;

 

• searching for suitable partner-enterprises abroad;

 

• seeking and applying for funding;

 

• liaising preparatory measures, such as language courses or intercultural training;

 

• organizing traineeships in Germany for foreign youth and young employees;

 

Please get in touch for any further information. You will find your contact person here.

Vocational Internships abroad are a win-win for everyone!

 

• securing intercultural skills through international experience;

 

• winning self-confidence and prove that they can cope with new challenges;

 

• getting to know new working methods and techniques;

 

• qualifying for responsible activities and managing positions.

 

 

• increasing their attractiveness as a training company and employer;

 

• winning high-skilled workers with foreign language skills, international experience and intercultural competence;

 

• establishing new business contacts abroad and exchanging skillful knowledge;

 

• promoting commitment and independence through internships abroad among future professionals.