09.07.2020
NetQA looks to online formats
The Skills Analysis Network (NetQA) has expanded its digital range of information. Further online events are planned.
The NetQA project facilitates the networking of the competent authorities in issues relating to the planning and implementation of skills analyses (QA), and has expanded its range of digital information and exchange formats. What has the experience been like so far? And what is planned? A summary
Information events and exchange formats
Since spring 2020, the NetQA project partners from the Chambers of Crafts and Trades (HWK) and the Chambers of Industry and Commerce (IHK) have been making increasing use of online formats for events and meetings in their transfer regions. Experiences have been consistently positive.
At the online exchange meeting of the Chambers of Crafts and Trades (HWK) and the Chambers of Industry and Commerce (IHK) in Rhineland-Palatinate and in the Saarland on 25 June, the focus was on the reorganisation of the skills analyses special fund, counselling practice and the implementation of skills analyses during the corona pandemic, discussion of occupations where skills analyses are in demand, and enquiries relating to the new Skilled Immigration Act. The online exchange meeting showed that a regional exchange by experts via an online conference tool with not too many participants would also be easy to implement in other transfer regions.
The “collegial exchange” for IHK advisers from across Germany which took place following the DIHK Advisers’ Day on 17 June is particularly worth mentioning. It was organized by NetQA project partners – the Chambers of Industry and Commerce for Munich and Upper Bavaria, by the Lower Rhine Chamber of Industry and Commerce for Duisburg-Wesel-Kleve, by IHK FOSA and by saarland.innovation&standort e. V. (saaris). The agenda included basic information about skills analysis, the funding of the network and the introduction of the NetQA team with its project chambers across Germany including responsibilities for the transfer regions and the IHK FOSA, and the Federal Institute for Vocational Education and Training (BIBB) which is responsible for project coordination. All the relevant advisers across Germany have a direct contact person in a NetQA project chamber in the respective transfer region. The emphasis of the 90-minute event was on providing information effectively and in an easy-to-understand manner and on giving participants the opportunity to ask their own questions The technical implementation by the Central Agency for Continuing Vocational Education and Training in the Skilled Crafts (ZWH) ran smoothly. Further invitations to such or similar exchange formats will follow soon.
The online seminar on 8 July regarding recognition counselling at the Chambers of Industry and Commerce for Munich and Upper Bavaria was aimed at companies and labour market stakeholders from the area of migration, representatives of counselling centres and at job centres and employment agencies from Bavaria—in particular from Munich and Upper Bavaria. Information was provided about the NetQA project and the possibility of recognition despite lack of supporting documents.
In the autumn of 2020, a virtual exchange meeting is planned for the transfer regions of North Rhine-Westphalia, Thuringia and Hesse. In addition to the exchange on skills analysis, more in-depth information is also to be provided for those who took part in the DIHK Advisers’ Day on 17 June. Planning for the event will begin shortly.
Online formats for carrying out skills analyses and for counselling practice
Over the past few months, valuable experience has been gained with online formats, not just for information events and project partner exchange meetings, but also for preparing skills analyses and the training of advisers. Online counselling in particular may have a key role to play in the future.
The NetQA project partner Frankfurt/Oder Chamber of Crafts and Trades has developed a digital format in the training software ILIAS for conducting an exploratory discussion as part of the skills analysis. The exploratory meeting helps occupational experts, when preparing a skills analysis, to determine the fields of activity to be examined in the respective occupation and to select the tools to be used.
The ZWH is currently implementing competent authority training courses for recognition counsellors from the Chambers of Crafts and Trades and the Chambers of Industry and Commerce. To date, the professional aspects of the training courses have been designed by the West German Chamber of Crafts and Skilled Trades’ Council (WHKT) with support from the IHK FOSA for the chambers of industry and commerce. The online seminars are each 90 minutes long and are to be offered in future in three modules. The HWK project partners are likely to start with module 1 on 20 July. The main themes will be the basic aspects prior to a skills analysis—these include clarifying the responsibilities, procedural requirements, the procedural process and the funding options for a skills analysis. Those interested can contact the NetQA partner projects directly in their transfer region for further information.
Under the motto of “a fresh start in an old occupation”, a telephone and online clinic took place on 4 June which was organised by one of the Lower Rhine Chambers of Industry and Commerce. From 10.00 am to 4.00 pm, a large number of skilled workers interested in recognition made use of the digital recognition clinic via video chat or telephone. The clinic is a joint project run by NetQA adviser Yassine Zerari and local recognition counsellor Judith Hemeier. The clinic was advertised in a press release and posted on Facebook.
Turning the crisis into an opportunity!
The NetQA project coordination’s overall assessment of the numerous initiatives taken by project partners during the period of the coronavirus is very positive. “We are delighted that the NetQA project partners have not only responded to the coronavirus challenge with great flexibility, but have also been highly innovative and launched new formats. A big thank you to everyone who has made this possible. This will spur us on to establish these formats on a permanent basis and we want to harness the momentum for the ongoing and new development of formats,” explains project coordinator Daniela Wiemers.
Keep up to date
We will inform you about future events through “News” and in the “Recognition in Germany” newsletter as well as on the NetQA website.
Further information:
NetQA