Knowledge management

The federal government, states and chambers are working to simplify and accelerate recognition. Here you can find examples of how it can work better.

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AI-supported curriculum translation on the BQ portal

Initial solution: The translation of foreign curricula to support the recognition of professional qualifications in Germany is essential. The traditional method of using sworn translators is time-consuming and expensive. The BQ portal carefully considers innovative alternatives and runs tests using an AI translation tool.

Solution approach: Test runs were completed using DeepL, the Cologne-based AI translation tool. Initial results show that common languages, such as English and Spanish, can already be machine translated with a low rate of errors. This is particularly effective for continuous texts.

Accuracy is lower for lists in bullet point form, in particular in tables, and also for complex, specialist descriptions. Differing terminology used in the source English from different countries of training impacts on the quality of the translation. For languages which are less common, such as Turkish and Russian, quality assurance (post-editing) carried out by translators is recommended. Established AI translation tools are not yet able to provide satisfactory results for some languages, such as Arabic. The influence of the file format on the quality of the translation should also be noted because different file formats produce different translation suggestions. For example, the translations suggested from AI-based translation using DeepL differ depending on whether the source text originates from a PDF or a Word document. The rapid advancement of AI-based translation technology is impressive. The approach chosen by the BQ portal seeks to encourage acceptance of AI translations and in this way to bring about time and cost savings in the recognition procedure.

Contact: Daniel Wörndl (BQ-Portal)
Further information about AI-based curriculum translations

Kathrin Jegen

UBA: Skilled Crafts’ Toolbox

Initial solution: Companies looking to employ, train or recruit foreign skilled workers need tailored support to help with this. The Central Agency for Continuing Vocational Education and Training in the Skilled Crafts (ZWH) has therefore produced a digital toolbox for businesses as part of the project “Unternehmen Berufsanerkennung” (UBA) [“Professional recognition for business”]

Solution approach: The toolbox contains lots of sample forms, templates and leaflets for companies – all free of charge – on the topics of professional recognition, refresher training and the Skilled Immigration Act.

The documents help with the organising of company-based refresher training and explain key aspects of the actual professional recognition procedure – and always from the company perspective. The toolbox is being continually expanded. This UBA project is funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF).

Contact: Ricarda Heßelmann (ZWH)
Further information about the UBA Skilled Crafts’ Toolbox

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Central Assessment Agency for Healthcare Professions (GfG)

Initial solution: For a long time, there was no nationwide, standardised recognition of healthcare professions in Germany. The federal states therefore established the Central Assessment Agency for Healthcare Professions (GfG) at the Central Office for Foreign Education (ZAB), which began its work on 1 September 2016. Since then, it has contributed successfully to the standardisation of procedures.

Solution approach: The GfG compares foreign qualifications in healthcare occupations against the German reference occupations. In addition, it produces individual assessments and, on the initiative of the federal government, also so-called sample assessments.

The GfG also runs authentication checks of documents and determines the reference qualification for foreign training courses. Since 2022, GfG information has no longer been reserved for administrative bodies only, but is now freely available to advisers and skilled workers via the anabin database. By making their assessments, the GfG is reducing the workload on the competent authorities, contributing to consistent recognition practice across Germany and therefore helping to make procedures transparent. The competent authorities in the federal states continue to provide the final recognition and the authorisation to practice.

Further information about the work of the GfG

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Do you know of other examples that contribute to the optimization of recognition procedures? We would be happy to include your example on our website.

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