Working together for recognition

The German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ) GmbH and the Federal Institute for Vocational Education and Training (BIBB) are now also working together closely in the area of professional recognition. BIBB division “Recognition of professional qualifications” is offering digital training for GIZ partner institutions in selected countries.

GIZ, together with the labour administrations in several countries, has been running advice centres for jobs, migration and reintegration since 2015. The centres provide information to persons interested in migration regarding opportunities for migrating to Germany for employment and training. The GIZ programme “Migration & Diaspora” (PMD) strengthens the competencies of institutions in the countries concerned in order to further improve the provision of information. There has been a huge increase in the demand for information about professional recognition as a result of the 2020 Skilled Immigration Act.

The joint training using the GIZ “Migration & Diaspora” programme is helping to consolidate and improve knowledge on professional recognition in Germany and in this way support local institutions in getting information about the process and further offers of advice to foreign skilled workers at an early stage. The training examines all of the stages in the recognition process in four interactive modules. What needs to be clarified before applying for recognition? Which issues arise and what tasks are involved in making the application? And what happens after the recognition notice? Answers are provided in particular to the following question: which official information and advice offers and online tools can help with recognition?

Following the first two training sessions in December 2021 for institutions in Egypt and Tunisia, training has taken place this year for institutions in Gambia, Kosovo, Morocco, Nigeria, Serbia and Vietnam. Further dates are still to come for Albania in 2022, and in 2023 for Georgia, Ghana, Indonesia, Pakistan and Senegal. The goal is to optimise advice on recognition in the country of origin directly and to provide qualified skilled workers with information regarding options and requirements at an early stage.

The joint training project from BIBB and GIZ is yet another example of the successful collaboration between the two institutions which has been in place for 10 years. 

More information

GIZ: “Migration & Diaspora” programme

BIBB: Online training sessions on recognition

BIBB/GIZ: Cooperation agreement renewed