Optimised recognition

Zentralstelle für ausländisches Bildungswesen (ZAB)

Graphic shows the ZAB certificate assessment

New ZAB platform digitalises the assessment of higher education certificates.

Initial solution: The recognition in Germany of a foreign higher education certificate is a requirement for many academic professions, or it can be helpful. Until now, this had to be applied for in writing and documents had to be sent off.

Solution approach: The statement of comparability for foreign higher education qualifications was digitalised within 12 months. After applying and uploading the necessary documents, the assessment is completed and a PDF issued with the digital seal.

The Central Office for Foreign Education’s (ZAB) online platform for the statement of comparability for foreign higher education qualifications has been offering this service since 15 February 2024. The entire process is now digital and can be completed without switching media. This service was developed by the ZAB in cooperation with the Federal Ministry of the Interior and Community (BMI) and the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF).

The platform provides a user friendly and multilingual interface. Users enter all the necessary information into a dynamic application form, upload their documents and pay the fees directly via PayPal, credit card or bank transfer. The digitalised online service should speed up and simplify processes which previously took months to complete.

The lessons learned to date from this project offer valuable insights for future digitalisation initiatives. In particular, taking a holistic view and engaging all those involved has proved successful. The new platform also impressed the eGovernment competition jury and came first in the category of “Particular social relevance” in September 2024.

Advice: Please check whether you actually need the statement of comparability. Evidence of the comparability of a foreign higher education qualification with a German qualification can also be provided via the anabin database.

A guide to using the anabin database is available here.

Further information about the statement of comparability and anabin can be found on our page Assessment of higher education qualifications.

Contact: General questions on the statement of comparability
Press release from the Standing Conference of the Ministers of Education and Cultural Affairs

Kiattisak / Adobe Stock

A hand presses a virtual translation button

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

St. Franziskus-Hospital Muenster

The “Transkulturelle Integration in der Pflege (TIP)” [“Cross-cultural integration in nursing”] project supports general nurses in Muenster.

Initial solution: General nurses are needed across Germany. Having arrived in the country, however, it's not always easy for skilled workers from abroad: new job, coping with speaking German, official procedures – these are all challenges which have to be overcome. To help, the St. Franziskus Hospital in Muenster has set up the “Transkulturelle Integration in der Pflege (TIP)” project. And it’s been a great success.

Solution approach: The “Transkulturelle Integration in der Pflege” project is funded by the St. Franziskus Hospital and eases the pressures on skilled workers from other countries when beginning their new (working) lives.

The project aims to ensure that, over the long term, skilled workers also feel happy and content here in Germany. To support this, TIP focuses on learning support following the Montessori approach and on the clear separation of integration and nursing management. Support is also provided by a specifically designed, in-house German course which bridges the gap between classroom German and everyday language use. The project is effective: all participants have remained in Germany permanently – a retention rate of 100%.

Contact: Thomas Thiemann (St. Franziskus-Hospital Muenster)
Further information: Team Franziskus in the news

Evandro Pflege / Adobe Stock

A group of doctors and nurses stand in the sunlight

National exchange formats simplify the professional recognition of medical professions

Initial solution: The recognition of healthcare professions is carried out by different competent authorities depending on the federal state or region. While the process of recognition is essentially regulated by federal law, interpretations or administrative practices can differ between the federal states. Since 2015, the Recognition Monitoring Department of the Federal Institute for Vocational Education and Training (BIBB) has been organising exchange formats for the competent authorities on behalf of the BMBF, among other things to offer the authorities a platform and ensure greater uniformity.

Solution approach: A series of workshops is currently focusing, for example, on recommendations to the competent authorities in order to standardise document requirements in the context of recognition. More standardised requirements should make the process more transparent for professionals and advisory services.

A series of workshops is currently focusing, for example, on recommendations to the competent authorities in order to standardise document requirements in the context of recognition. More standardised requirements should make the process more transparent for professionals and advisory services.

Contact: Moritz Scholz (BIBB)

Halfpoint / Adobe Stock

Male nursery school teacher reads to a group of children

National exchange formats standardise the recognition of nursery school teacher occupations

Initial solution: The occupation of nursery school teacher is regulated at federal state level and, therefore, different regulations govern the recognition of nursery school teacher occupations. The processes involved also differ. On behalf of the BMBF, the Federal Institute for Vocational Education and Training is working together in regular workshops with representatives from the federal states’ competent authorities and other federal state and federal government representatives to produce specific measures and recommendations aimed at harmonising the recognition processes.

Solution approach: These regular meetings of the relevant federal state recognition offices are offered by the BIBB recognition monitoring project to simplify and standardise recognition for nursery school teacher occupations.

Depending on the context, other participants also include representatives of the relevant federal state ministries, the Central Office for Foreign Education (ZAB), the IQ Competence Centre for Recognition and Job Training (FSAQ), the BMBF and the Federal Ministry of Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth (BMFSFJ). The presentation of the initial results in 2023 was well received: these included sample notices which have been developed to ensure greater transparency. Another tool is the sheet supplementing the sample notice. This sets out in visual form the stage in the procedure and the options available for the applicants to take. The results are also being incorporated into the overall strategy for nursery school teachers.

Recommendations of the ‘Overall Skilled Labour Strategy’ working group

Model notices

Contact: Katharina Gilljohann (BIBB)

Wanan / Adobe Stock

Man holds his hand with illuminated IT symbols over smartphone and tablet

Making recognition quicker with AI

Initial solution: There is a shortage of medical staff in Germany. The federal state of Bavaria is looking to innovative solutions to address the rising demand for doctors. On 1 January 2024, a pilot project was launched focused on the use of artificial intelligence (AI).

Solution approach: The project envisages the checking of documents submitted as one potential use of artificial intelligence. For example, it could verify the plausibility of diplomas which have been uploaded.

The aim is that this approach will help to speed up procedures. The pilot project is planned through to the end of 2025 and is being supported by the Bavarian Ministry for Health with a budget of around €320,000. It is being implemented in collaboration with the Digital Administration Competence Centre at the University of Applied Sciences in Hof and the government of Upper Bavaria.

Further information about the use of AI in the Bavarian Ministry of Health.

John FedeleBlend / Adobe Stock

Nursing specialist smiles into the camera

INGA Pflege

Initial solution: For foreign general nurses from third countries, getting their professional qualifications recognised in Germany can be a challenge. The INGA Pflege [INGA Care] concept can help with compensating for any differences in competencies identified. INGA Pflege is a professionally integrated adaptation period including language training for general nurses.

Solution approach: The INGA Pflege adaptation period is an innovative, professionally integrated scheme for international general nurses. The scheme was developed on the initiative of the German Federal Ministry of Health (BMG).

Completing the adaptation period reduces the differences in competencies identified. The nurse then receives recognition and authorisation to use the professional title of ‘general nurse’. INGA care can be implemented in hospitals, nursing organisations and outpatient care services. As an adaptation period, INGA Pflege combines efficient professional recognition, effective familiarisation with the host institution and a strengthening of communication skills in the profession. This means it is sustainable and it also facilitates integration. The concept was originally created for general nurses from the Philippines. It has been further developed and the new version, INGA Pflege 3.0, can now be used for different countries of training. The initial piloting of INGA Pflege at three locations in Saxony, Brandenburg and Hamburg has already been successfully completed. With the support of the BMG, the launch of further piloting of INGA Pflege 3.0 is planned in five federal states.

Further information about INGA Pflege
Contact: Julia Schmidt (Kuratorium Deutsche Altershilfe)

Unternehmen Berufsanerkennung

UBAconnect

Initial solution: Together with the chambers of industry and commerce (IHKs) and the chambers of crafts and trades, the BMBF-funded “Professional recognition for business” (UBA) project is implementing the UBAconnect matching service in which international skilled workers with partial equivalence are brought together with businesses to complete refresher training. The reason for this is that businesses in Germany are facing the challenge of having to find qualified international skilled workers. At the same time, there are skilled workers who have already received partial equivalence but who are still searching for an employer to enable them to come to Germany from a third country and complete refresher training. They need this to obtain their full recognition.

Solution approach: Together with the IHKs and the chambers of crafts and trades, the “Professional recognition for business” project has set up the “UBAconnect” matching service.

Businesses which are interested can register in the UBAconnect database. They then have the opportunity of finding skilled workers with partial equivalence in IHK professions and in the craft trades. If a successful match is made, the skilled worker is initially employed for a fixed term period, i.e. for the duration of the refresher training. The business takes on parts of the training. Practical work experience is provided in the business. This includes experience of business processes and quality management or operation of specialist machines. In this way the skilled worker is supported on their path to gaining full recognition. Both sides benefit from this: The international skilled workers receive their full recognition and the prospect of long-term permanent residency in Germany, and companies can recruit new skilled workers.

Contact: Verena Maisch (DIHK)
Further information about the work of UBAconnect

Halfpoint / Adobe Stock

Male nurse talks to elderly lady in wheelchair

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

Optimised recognition

See how it can work!

The federal government, federal states and Chambers are continually working to simplify the recognition procedures for foreign professional qualifications and to make these quicker. The case studies shown here have all been implemented and might help as examples of best practice.

New ZAB platform digitalises the assessment of higher education certificates.