Berufspädagoge@Kompetenzerweiterung Phase II (BP@Kom II)

Objectives

On the basis of the feasibility study carried out in 2010 (cf. synthesis report, 2011), a concept for implementing the trial professionalisation of VET staff was developed and presented. In addition to in-service professionalisation, this concept is intended to ensure permeability between continuing vocational training and higher education. The project objectives are to be achieved, among other things, through the conceptual, didactic and learning-organisational integration of the three learning venues (university, continuing training provider and company). The modular part-time degree programme is to lead to a double qualification: the “certified vocational pedagogue” and a recognised university degree. The central step is to implement a trial degree programme concept which, after completion with a university bachelor’s degree, enables the transition to a Master of Education, thereby creating the prerequisite for entering a teacher traineeship (Referendariat) for teaching at vocational schools. To this end, the corresponding prerequisites must be created in the preparation and testing phase.

Research focus/research questions

Based on the results of a “needs and feasibility study” carried out in 2010 at the locations Bremen/Oldenburg, Rostock, Trier and Schwäbisch Gmünd, a qualification and competence profile was developed that forms the basis of the curriculum to be developed and of the study structure.

The trial study concept is to be realised taking into account its objectives, the targeted groups (certified vocational pedagogues IHK, trainers, technicians, master craftsmen, technical business administrators) and the specific conditions in the Bremen/Lower Saxony region. The development and implementation of the trial model and the achievable qualifications, the integrated curriculum, the structure of the degree programme and the interlinking of the three learning venues (university, continuing training provider and company) form the core of the project. It is examined which approaches and which design of the learning processes ensure a high scientific quality of the learning outcomes. The results will considerably influence the design of the degree programme.

Methods

The BP@KOM project is characterised by the implementation of innovative elements to improve permeability between vocational and higher education. The first is the curricular linking of three learning venues (university, training provider, company) in the study model. The second innovative element for promoting permeability is the implementation of a blanket credit procedure for learning outcomes of vocational education (master craftsman qualification, technician qualification, certified vocational pedagogue IHK) towards the target degree programme. Specifically, this means that within the project, equivalence comparisons are carried out using the instruments of the Learning Outcome Matrix (LOM) and the Module Level Indicator (MLI). Their purpose is to capture the content of vocational and higher education learning outcomes and to determine their level on the basis of the eight-level European Qualifications Framework (EQF). Continuing vocational training programmes (vocational pedagogue, technician, master craftsman) are compared with the part-time degree programme “Vocational Education”. This approach is intended to enable a transparent description and assessment of learning outcomes on the basis of a valid frame of reference, with the EQF levels serving as the quality benchmark. The equivalence comparisons are intended to identify the credit potential of these continuing training programmes towards the target degree programme “Vocational Education”, which should contribute both to shortening the duration of study and to the mutual alignment of vocational and higher education programmes.

Results

The trial degree programme concept is to be realised taking into account its objectives, the targeted groups (certified vocational pedagogues IHK, trainers, technicians, master craftsmen, technical business administrators) and the specific conditions in the Bremen/Lower Saxony region. The development and implementation of the trial model and the achievable qualifications, the integrated curriculum, the structure of the degree programme and the interlinking of the three partners (university, continuing training provider and company) form the core of the proposed project.