Projects
Ongoing projects
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2026–2029
GEKKO – Innovative approaches to logistics design to enhance the skills of continuing professional development mentors
The project ‘Innovative Approaches in Logistics to Foster the Competence of Continuing Professional Development Mentors’ (GEKKO) is funded under the guidelines for supporting projects aimed at enhancing and strengthening work-related continuing professional development through the training and establishment of continuing professional development mentors. GEKKO aims to train continuing professional development mentors (CPD mentors) within the context of small and medium-sized logistics enterprises (SMEs) and to establish them at company level.
Dr. Christine Siemer Frieda Klaus
Department: Prof. Dr. Dr. h.c. Michael Gessler
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2026
BLP Mechtronik – BLP Industrial Mechatronics: Advancing TVET in Namibia through the Introduction of an Industrial Mechatronics Qualification
The GIZ project supports the introduction of a practice-oriented, competency-based qualification in industrial mechatronics in Namibia. Working with Namibian vocational training centres and the Namibia University of Science and Technology, the Institute Technology and Education at the University of Bremen has trained teachers and developed curricula and teaching materials. The professional development programme combined short courses, online training and mentoring with action-based learning. The aim is to establish the programme as a lasting part of Namibia’s vocational education and training system and broaden career opportunities in technical occupations. The project is funded by BMZ through the German Government and Federal States Programme and co-financed by the federal state of Bremen.
Department: Prof. Dr. Dr. h.c. Michael Gessler
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2024–2026
FLAME – Modern and efficient fire service career training
As part of the ‘Modern and Efficient Fire Service Career Training’ (FLAME) project, the ITB is supporting the Hamburg Fire Service Academy in modernising and expanding its career training programme for civil servants.
Dr. Claudia Fenzl Dr. Lisa Meyne Nils Weinowski
Department: Prof. Dr. Falk Howe
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2023–2026
DEVISE4KE – Strengthening the sustainable development of vocational education and training in Kenya by integrating workplace-based learning and improving the ICT skills of teachers and pupils through the use of solar energy and energy-efficient equipment
As part of the DEVISE4KE project, three secondary schools offering vocational training programmes in a rural region of Kenya are being equipped with photovoltaic systems and low-energy IT equipment. Through these measures, as well as teaching and learning activities for teachers, the aim is to enable digital-supported and work-based learning for local pupils.
Dr. Vivian Harberts Peter Kaune Dr. Christian Staden
Department: Prof. Dr. Falk Howe
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2023–2026
SKILLS4JUSTICE – Skills Partnerships for Sustainable and Just Migration Patterns
The issue: Many countries are experiencing, or are seeing a rise in, skills shortages, including in the IT sector, the care sector and the skilled trades. At the same time, there are both regular and irregular migration flows. Irregular migration results in significant disadvantages for those affected in terms of access to the labour market, which is not legally possible; however, regular labour migration also presents challenges for all stakeholders.
Dr. Kristina Kühn Frieda Klaus Dr. Andreas Saniter
Department: Prof. Dr. Dr. h.c. Michael Gessler
Completed projects
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2018
ECER-Toolbox – Supporting hybrid presentations, hybrid posters and ePosters with the help of ECER-Toolbox
The Learning Layers project (EU FP7), completed in 2017, developed and introduced the Learning Toolbox (LTB), with ITB involvement, as a digital toolkit for work-process-related learning. Its developers subsequently adapted it for presenting e-posters at conferences. These applications were piloted at two European conferences, AMEE and ECTEL, in 2017.
Dr. Ludger Deitmer Dr. Lars Heinemann Pekka Kämäräinen Werner Müller
Department: Prof. Dr. Dr. h.c. Michael Gessler
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2018–2022
wb-ibb – Research support for the BMBF funding programme “Internationalisation of VET”
Problem statement: Germany has a well-established vocational education and training system. Internationally, the ‘dual system’ in particular is held in high regard and serves as a model for national reform processes, as it supports the achievement of various objectives (including low youth unemployment, high productivity and high levels of social integration) in a unique way. The BMBF funding guideline ‘Internationalisation of Vocational Education and Training (ibb)’ aims to combine the promotion of exports with the fostering of international cooperation in vocational education and training. Objective: wb-ibb aims to assess the impact of the funding guideline. A further objective is to understand and explain the challenges and conditions for success in international vocational education and training cooperation. The overarching aim here is to support the internationalisation of vocational education and training, including through peer-learning processes.
PD Dr. Susanne Peters Dr. Larissa Holle Dr. Kristina Kühn Dr. Lisa Meyne Dr. Christine Siemer Dr. Janis Vossiek
Department: Prof. Dr. Dr. h.c. Michael Gessler
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2018–2019
Berufsschule digital – Vocational schools and their role in strengthening education in the digitalised world
In early April 2018, ten vocational schools were selected to engage intensively for almost two years with concepts and solutions for the digitalisation of VET, particularly in the context of teaching and school development. The aim of the ‘Berufsschule digital’ network, launched by the Deutsche Telekom Stiftung, is to identify examples of good practice through exchange between the schools, develop them further and make them available beyond the network. The participating workshop schools receive continuous research support from the Institute for Information Management Bremen (ifib) and the Institute Technology and Education (ITB) at the University of Bremen. On behalf of the Deutsche Telekom Stiftung, the two institutes support the schools in their workshop process.
Department: Prof. Dr. Falk Howe
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2017–2021
MARIDAL – Maritime regional network for integrated working and learning
Problem statement: Current developments in Germany’s port industry, which is dominated by small and medium-sized enterprises, are leading to increased competitive pressure, resulting in growing automation and digitalisation strategies. These developments bring changes to work organisation and work processes in the port industry. Objectives: The BMBF funding directive ‘Digital Media in VET’ addresses the interactions between technological developments, structural changes in the world of work and the associated challenges for initial and continuing training. MARIDAL aims to promote working and learning in the maritime industry through media-supported learning formats and to sustain this by establishing a regional digital transfer network, taking into account the simultaneity of competence development and organisational development.
Dr. Daniela Ahrens Sophia Roppertz Dr. Melanie Schall
Department: Prof. Dr. Dr. h.c. Michael Gessler
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2017–2020
TACCLE4 – Strategies, Models and Tools for Continuing Professional Development for Teachers in e-Learning
Problem statement: The preceding projects, Taccle 1, 2 and 3, developed school teachers' digital competences. Taccle4 CPD will develop strategies and models for continuing professional development. The ITB's work focuses on VET teachers. Objectives: To provide an overview of digital transformation in working life and develop perspectives on digitalisation in vocational teaching and learning.
Dr. Ludger Deitmer Pekka Kämäräinen
Department: Prof. Dr. Dr. h.c. Michael Gessler
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2017–2020
ICSAS – Integrating Companies in a Sustainable Apprenticeship System
ICSAS (‘Integrating Companies in a Sustainable Apprenticeship System’) offers countries without workplace learning experience first-hand insight into how this training system works, using the footwear industry. Work-based learning (WBL) is a promising approach to developing apprentices' occupational competence and strengthening their identification with their occupation and training company. Germany's dual VET system structurally incorporates real work processes' learning potential through alternating company and vocational school learning venues. In school-based systems such as Romania's and Portugal's, this potential remains untapped. ICSAS aims to demonstrate its use through a one-year dual programme in the footwear industry in Romania and Portugal, modelled on German dual training, and ultimately to incorporate dual elements into those countries' training regulations.
Dr. Andreas Saniter Bianca Schmitt
Department: Prof. Dr. Falk Howe
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2017–2020
DASCHE – Development, Assessment and Validation of Social Competences in Higher Education
Problem statement: Alongside research and teaching, higher education institutions have a so-called ‘third mission’: shaping the interface between higher education and society. In the course of efforts to make higher education comparable, social competences became a target dimension of the European Qualifications Framework (EQF) and of the respective national qualifications frameworks. How this field of learning, and the processes for achieving this goal, should be designed is still open, unresolved and in need of development. Objectives: DASCHE aims to identify good practice in the sense of the project and, on this basis, to derive a common framework model for embedding social competence in higher education.
Dr. Kristina Kühn Lena Setzepfand
Department: Prof. Dr. Dr. h.c. Michael Gessler
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2017–2019
RISE – Regional Innovation Hubs Strengthening Social Entrepreneurship through Cross-Border Community Projects
Problem statement: Developing entrepreneurial competences is not a standard component of European VET. Vocational schools and practitioners consequently lack an enabling environment, the necessary internal structures and the required competences. Objectives: The consortium aimed to develop vocational schools in Germany, Spain and Slovenia into regional innovation hubs.
Department: Prof. Dr. Dr. h.c. Michael Gessler
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2017–2020
MeMoApp – Media competence for mobile, app-based working and learning
The MeMoApp project, funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research and the European Social Fund, addresses professional drivers, an occupation with a particularly high degree of mobility. The occupational profile has changed fundamentally in recent years. Rising cognitive demands and the consequences of mediatisation and digitalisation confront employees with new challenges. Promoting media competence is an important prerequisite for meeting these challenges. To this end, MeMoApp has developed a company media education concept, under the umbrella term MekoSmartHub, as the basis for systematically integrating the promotion of media competence into the company’s working and learning culture. In addition, a mobile app that supports professional drivers in their daily work was developed in close cooperation with the practice partners.
Dr. Kristina Kühn Michael Sander
Department: Prof. Dr. Falk Howe
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2016–2018
STRIDE – STRategIes for the Digital Education
Problem statement: Digitalisation affects every economic and social sector and increasingly schools. Yet uncertainty remains about how schools can reshape their provision and profile in response to technological change, including teaching, external communications, work-related communication and organisational processes. STRIDE's objectives were: (1) To develop and validate open-access learning provision enabling school stakeholders to devise systematic, institution-specific digitalisation strategies; (2) To create an online environment for sharing school digitalisation strategies and experiences.
Department: Prof. Dr. Dr. h.c. Michael Gessler
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2016–2019
IntAGt – Integrating preventive occupational health and safety into initial and advanced training occupations in Industry 4.0
The IntAGt collaborative project was part of the BMBF funding priority ‘Preventive measures for the safe and healthy work of tomorrow’. Its aim was to develop and implement measures to promote healthy skilled work conducive to learning in digitalised industrial production. The project’s starting point was the central thesis that skilled workers, as (co-)designers of their own work, and managers alike need the competence to design work in ways that promote health. Work analyses using an analytical procedure combining methods from occupational psychology and occupational science made it possible to describe the occupational fields of activity of assembly, system operation and maintenance in terms of competence requirements as well as health-promoting and stressful working conditions. On this basis, various learning and teaching concepts aimed at in-company training, vocational schools and advanced training institutions, such as technician schools, were developed, tested and made available.
Dr. Claudia Fenzl Annette Baimler-Dietz Christian Daniel Dr. Christian Staden Raphael von Galen
Department: Prof. Dr. Falk Howe
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2016–2018
DigiProB – A learning concept and tool system for integrating learning and experience in the construction industry
DigiProB was funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research from 1 March 2016 to 31 October 2018 under ‘Digital Media in VET’ (DIMEBB 2). At Bau ABC, northern Germany's largest inter-company construction training centre, it used digital tools to redesign advanced training for construction team leaders, foremen and certified site supervisors towards stronger action orientation.
Dr. Ludger Deitmer Dr. Lars Heinemann Werner Müller Dr. Christian Staden PD Dr. Rainer Bremer
Department: Prof. Dr. Falk Howe
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2015–2018
HAKS – Craft training for climate protection
Buildings are a major starting point for climate protection, accounting for around 40% of Germany's CO₂ emissions. Achieving national climate targets requires energy consumption reductions of approximately 80–90% by 2050. Current renovation rates indicate an urgent need for action. HAKS aimed to overcome key, frequently cited barriers to highly energy-efficient renovation sustainably and in the long term. Its focus included networking, understanding other trades' working requirements, updating knowledge of technical solutions and alternative materials and products, using digital media, and improving company training and cooperation.
Werner Müller Dr. Klaus Ruth Alexander Seedorf Dr. Christian Staden
Department: Prof. Dr. Falk Howe
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2015–2018
DiEDa – Developing continuing education didactics for self-organised learning with learner-oriented differentiation and purposeful use of digital media
DiEDa develops and tests a practically applicable approach to self-directed learning in different continuing VET contexts, grounded in vocational and media education and giving particular attention to digital media.
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2015–2017
PACE – Promoting Employability through Entrepreneurial Actions in Cross-Border Student Enterprises
Problem statement: The 2007/2008 economic crisis increased youth unemployment, particularly in southern Europe. Objectives: The project aimed to enrich vocational training in three European regions (Spain, Italy and Germany) with additional provision to improve young people's employability.
Miguel Civera Dr. Kristina Kühn Lena Setzepfand
Department: Prof. Dr. Dr. h.c. Michael Gessler
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2015–2018
MESA – Media use in welding training
MESA promotes digital media use in vocational education in the welding sector. As a sector-specific innovation, welding simulators offer clear learning advantages, but effective use requires a pedagogical framework that does not yet exist. MESA integrates digital media into a needs-based, pedagogically grounded concept supporting both general inter-company welding training and company training.
Christian Daniel Torsten Grantz Dr. Sven Schulte
Department: Prof. Dr.-Ing. Maren Petersen
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2015–2017
DiMBA – Digital media in company-based vocational education and training
In cooperation with the Institute for Information Management Bremen GmbH (ifib) and on behalf of (and in cooperation with) the Federal Institute for Vocational Education and Training (BIBB), this research project investigated the use of digital media in company-based training practice and, on this basis, developed materials for training staff. The central questions of the research and development project were: How do in-company training staff select digital media for everyday initial and continuing training practice? How are digital media integrated into initial and continuing training processes? What support do in-company training staff need in order to integrate digital media optimally into initial and continuing training?
Department: Prof. Dr. Falk Howe
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2014–2017
WSF China – Workforce Skill Formation and Innovation at the Shop-Floor Level in China
Problem statement: While German companies increasingly internationalise, German VET research remains nationally focused or, at most, European. Little is therefore known about how companies abroad develop and train shop-floor workers in different socio-cultural and political environments. Objectives: The exploratory project sought insights into VET internationally, beyond familiar national and European boundaries.
Dr. Larissa Holle Dr. Klaus Ruth
Department: Prof. Dr. Dr. h.c. Michael Gessler
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2013–2017
EcoBRU – Ecological Education for Belarus, Russia and Ukraine
The project promotes lifelong learning in Belarus, Russia and Ukraine for vocational school and general school teachers. It develops and delivers e-learning continuing education courses on environmental education, supporting the three governments' efforts to embed environmental education throughout their education systems.
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2012–2016
Learning Layers – Scaling up Technologies for Informal Learning in SMEs
The (large-scale) project “Learning Layers”, launched in autumn 2012 within the 7th EU Framework Programme for Research (ICT priority), deals with the question of how Web 2.0 tools must be designed in order to specifically strengthen workplace learning of skilled workers and trainees in the main and ancillary construction trades.
Dr. Ludger Deitmer Graham Attwell Dr. Joanna Burchert Dr. Lars Heinemann Pekka Kämäräinen Werner Müller PD Dr. Rainer Bremer
Department: Prof. Dr. Dr. h.c. Michael Gessler