An iMOVE workshop took place in Chongqing on May 14, 2008, during a series of events entitled "Germany and China – Moving Ahead Together".

Vocational training experts from both countries presented the results of projects to date and elaborated on new approaches and strategies in German-Chinese vocational training cooperation in front of approximately 100 guests, who had accepted the invitation from the Chongqing Education Commission to attend this workshop. 

The German Vocational Training System is well-known and highly valued in China. It is known for its practice-oriented approach, its orientation toward the work marketplace and procedures and its focus on the trainee. Learning is not virtual or simulated, but takes place within the framework of true work procedures in the social environment of a business enterprise.

In the over 25-year German-Chinese cooperation, projects and activities in numerous locations to pilot and disseminate German vocational training concepts have been implemented successfully. Together with our Chinese partners, models were developed and adapted to suit Chinese reality, which differs greatly from region to region. 

For years now, vocational training reform, from legislation to concrete implementation, has been underway in China.  Germany belongs to the most significant reference countries and, indeed, many conceptual changes date back to the German system and the German-Chinese cooperation. 

The afternoon was devoted to the introduction of German vocational training providers. In a series of brief presentations, a total of eight companies presented their proposals, which were geared specifically to meet Chinese needs and requirements. At the end of the workshop, one-on-one discussions took place between German and Chinese vocational training players.

Everyone agreed that the greatest value in participating in this “Deutschland-Promenade” was that German vocational training could be presented in one of China’s “regions of the future”. The need for reform in western China is significantly greater and more urgent than in the country’s mega-cities located in the east. 

In the future, the Education Commission of Chongqing and the local industry will have to see which reform and steps of modernization can be achieved in vocational qualification with the projected budget.  In competition with other Chinese cities for domestic and foreign direct investments, Chongqing will be able to put itself forward best in the area of qualified personnel.  Chongqing will not become a world city comparable to Beijing or Shanghai.