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MET-VET – Metacognition for
Environmental Thinking in VET
Project number:
2021-2-PL01-KA220-VET-000050783

In Germany there are several governmental initiatives aimed at fostering and updating the green skills
of Vocational Education and Training (VET) teachers and trainers. These initiatives include mainly
optional training courses, seminars, and other programs.
Direct references to sustainability in training regulations and framework curricula are often general or
closely oriented to the Standard vocational training positions. Sustainability is addressed via the
Standard vocational training positions as an area of competence to be taught throughout the entire
training program.
Additionally, there are policies and strategic plans at both the local (state-level) and national levels
aimed at improving the levels of knowledge and competencies of VET teachers and trainers in the
context of sustainability and environmental awareness.
For what concerns governmental Initiatives, the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF)
often initiates programs and projects aimed at improving the skills and competencies of VET teachers
and trainers. This includes funding for training courses and seminars focusing on green skills and
sustainability in vocational education.
Also the Federal Institute for Vocational Education and Training (BIBB) plays a key role in developing
and implementing vocational education policies in Germany. They offer specialized training programs
and resources for VET teachers and trainers to enhance their knowledge of green skills and sustainable
practices.
Since 2015, BIBB has been funding eighteen ‘VET for sustainable development’ projects (BBNE). Until
2020/21, they experimented and evaluated relevant curriculum concepts, digital teaching, learning
materials and examination questions on green skills for initial and continuing VET, e.g. on energy saving
and energy efficiency, carbon and water footprint, or thinking about resources. A transfer programme
for training staff (2020-22) follows the VET for sustainable development (BBNE) programme to support
in-company trainers to develop green and sustainable skills. Consortia (experienced partners of the
BBNE pilot projects) were selected in summer 2020 with seven collaborative transfer projects, which
started in November 2020 for 2 years. One example is the BBNE sustainability project ANLIN
‘Apprenticeship promotes sustainable places of learning in industry’, which now has a successor: the
transfer project ANLIN ‘Trainers and apprentices become sustainability experts’.
(https://www.bibb.de/de/121439.php).
In addition, each state in Germany may also have its own initiatives and programs to support VET
teachers and trainers in acquiring green skills. These may include funding for professional development
courses, workshops, and seminars focused on sustainability.
Governmental bodies may collaborate with industry partners, trade associations, and professional
organizations to develop training programs tailored to the needs of specific sectors. These programs
often incorporate elements of environmental sustainability and green technologies.
At national level, there are many policies and Strategic Plans.
The National Strategy for Continuing Education (Nationale Weiterbildungsstrategie), developed by the
Federal Government, outlines priorities for continuing education in Germany. It may include provisions
for enhancing the green skills of VET teachers and trainers to meet the demands of a sustainable
economy. The National Skills Strategy (Nationale Kompetenzstrategie) is a strategy focused on
improving skills and competencies across various sectors. Within this framework, there may be specific
goals and actions aimed at integrating green skills into vocational education and training.
For what concerns state-level education plans, each German state develops its own education plan,
which may include provisions for integrating sustainability and environmental awareness into VET
curricula. These plans may also outline strategies for supporting VET teachers and trainers in acquiring
relevant green skills.
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Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not
necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither
the European Union nor EACEA can be held responsible for them.