Is a professional Further Training a fitting Alternatives to a postgraduate course? A practical complement to the theoretical Study it can always be – if certain conditions are met.

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Advantages of continuing vocational training

Despite all the practical parts, postgraduateCourses are often quite theoretical. In addition, they can usually only be completed with a considerable investment in time and money. Therefore the question arises: Are there alternatives to a university one? Further Training? And maybe after a theory-heavy degree, it's just one qualification useful, which is directly related to the practical work life has to do? Vocational training can be the right path here. In the majority of cases, however, it leads completely away from the original field of study to completely different professional fields. However, this may be an acceptable consequence for graduates who wanted to turn their backs on traditional humanities work anyway. However, further training is not the same as further training. In order to find the right offer in the confusing market, you have to consider a whole series of points when searching.

What is professional development? - definition

The German Bildungsrin 1970, at defined the entire complex of further training as “continuation or resumption of organized learning after the completion of a first training phase of varying lengths... The end of the first training phase and thus the beginning of possible further training is usually marked by entry into full employment... Short-term training or training on Workplace does not belong in the framework of further education” (German Education Council 1970, 197). In specialist literature, continuing education is often referred to as adult education (cf. Tippelt 1999, 11). Three types of educational opportunities are summarized under the heading of continuing education:

General training

The general training includes all further training offers that are not directly job-related. In practice, she is not always light to be distinguished from further vocational training, since key qualifications such as Teamwork, creativity or media competence also in Job become more and more important. Foreign languages ​​are used for general personality development as well as for better ones Communication at work. General continuing education also includes political and cultural continuing education.

University education

The university further education has to Objectivewhich Background of participants after graduating, or to keep them up to date, just as postgraduateCourses do. However, further education at universities is also open to professionals without a first degree who now want to learn how to work scientifically.

continuing Professional Education

Continuing vocational training is the classic field for courses to deepen or supplement professional knowledge. What used to be known as advanced training is now known as “advanced training” in Book III of the Social Code. In practice there is also between retraining and advancement trainingA distinction is made between training and adaptation training.

expert

Xpert was introduced by the German adult education centers and comparable European educational institutions and is the umbrella brand for teaching professional and personal Competencies for everyday work. Xpert certificates can, for example, be awarded in the areas of PC use, Business, Personal Business Skills and Culture Communication Skills can be acquired. The participants themselves determine who attends the Xpert events. How this works can be demonstrated using the example of Xpert Personal Business Skills: The participants can choose from 12 seminars in four areas of competence – organizing, presenting, negotiating and moderating. Each seminar ends with a written exam, and a certificate is issued for passing. After completing three modules from at least two areas of competence, the “Xpert Personal Business Skills” certificate is issued, after two additional modules from at least one other area of ​​competence the certificate “Xpert Personal Business Skills Pro” is issued. Attending a workshop ultimately leads to the “Xpert Personal Business Skills Master” degree. The price for the seminars is usually moderate: with a maximum of ten participants, it is €60 for three seminars or 220 hours of instruction. Xpert further training is funded by the Federal Employment Agency. The Xpert certificates are not professional qualifications, they are not recognized by the state. However, the name Xpert stands for high-quality further education with content and examinations that are standardized throughout Europe.

Training and retraining

The Vocational Training Act subdivides further vocational training into further training and retraining. Further training serves to maintain and expand the professional knowledge and skills of employees or the unemployed or to adapt them to the current level of knowledge in a profession. The retraining, on the other hand, is intended to enable a new professional activity. In both cases, the content, type, aim, duration and examinations can be regulated by statutory orders from the Federal Ministry for Education and research to be regulated. However, state regulations are only mandatory for retraining for a recognized training occupation (BBiG § 1, 3-4; § 25; § 46-47). The Federal Institute for Vocational Training (BIBB) offers an overview of possible advanced training professions on its website.

degrees

In contrast, the majority of further training qualifications are not regulated by law. Only part of the further training is state-run and is recognized throughout Germany. The trainers often issue their own certificates, the acceptance of which on the job market is not always guaranteed. It is therefore not easy to compare training courses at national level. A comparison of further training courses abroad is even more difficult, since there have been hardly any binding regulations for training courses in the course of the Bologna process recognition created by vocational training qualifications. There are already some proposals and ideas, which are intended to provide more transparency. If you want to find out more about this, we recommend the website of the European Commission. The relevant professional associations also provide information on the international recognition of further training qualifications in the various sectors.

Forms of further training

However, not only the content, but also the type of further training is difficult to define. “It is particularly disputed to what extent, in addition to 'classic' further education in the form of training courses, less formalized types of knowledge acquisition are still to be regarded as further education. This applies, for example, to operational Measures promoting learning in the workplace, self-learning through observation and experimentation, self-directed learning with the help of media, reading specialist books or specialist journals, as well as quality or workshop circles and other participation groups" (Kuwan et al., 7f.). Professional training can therefore be anything that provides further training in the truest sense of the word: a conference, a language course at the adult education center, distance training or reading books. Further education institutions can be public and private providers such as universities and adult education centers, church and trade union institutions or professional associations and chambers, but also individuals. Some trainers specialize in vocational or political education, while others cover the entire spectrum.

Which fields of work are open to humanities scholars with further training?

Further professional development is basically possible in almost any area. However, it is only useful if, together with the university degree and the knowledge and skills acquired during the course, it opens up better career prospects.

For this reason, selected occupational fields for humanities scholars and related training courses are presented here. Ideally constructed case studies provide suggestions for individual research.

Languages

Anyone who would like to use the foreign language skills they have acquired during their studies in a professional capacity but do not want to add a postgraduate course can also do advanced training.

Case study 1

A Slavicist does not actually need any further qualifications to work as a freelance translator. However, he lacks good contacts. In addition, there are many qualified translators on the market with whom he cannot compete without a regular customer base. But studying is too expensive for him. The further training to become a certified translator from the IHK offers him the opportunity to prove his skills with a recognized qualification. Participation in the course is not compulsory, but it systematically prepares you for the exam. Each lesson costs €34,50. The examination fees are again 220 €. But the effort is worth it: As a certified translator, the Slavicist can register in the translator and interpreter database of the Chamber of Industry and Commerce and is therefore available to all companies that have orders to place. fast to find. He can also join the Association of Translators and Interpreters and thus take out inexpensive professional liability insurance.

Case study 2

After completing her exams, a graduate of comparative linguistics initially worked as an office worker for a temporary employment agency. She discovered that office work also has its advantages: permanent salary, regulated working hours, good working atmosphere. Unfortunately, a permanent position hadn't really worked out so far, because small and medium-sized companies in particular couldn't do anything with their exotic field of study. So she decided to combine her foreign language skills with commercial know-how: the IHK further training as a foreign language clerk cost her €1.500 for 300 hours. This paid off thanks to the permanent position, because for her new Executive the IHK is a constant with a trustworthy degree.

IT and technology

Also in IT and Technology many humanities scholars find a new home.

Case study 1

A Germanist with IT skills aims to become a technical writer. However, because he does not want to complete an expensive postgraduate course that is unrelated to practice, he begins a two-year technical traineeship with a softwareCompanies and even receives a monthly salary of €1.300 during this time. This training path is offered by Tekom as a professional association for technical communication and information development. The future technical editor learns his future profession through practical work in the company, through face-to-face seminars in a further education institution and through teleCourses, in which he can do it at home via Internet predetermined Tasks solves. After passing the exam, the Germanist may use the professional title “Technical Editor (Tekom)”. Since he already proved himself in the company during his training, his chances of being taken on are pretty good.

Case study 2

An archaeologist who works for an excavation company apply needs knowledge of the most important IT applications. He already has basic knowledge, but wants to expand it and prove his know-how with a recognized certificate. He therefore acquires the European Computer Passport Xpert (xpert-online.de), which is made up of various modules. He pays 50 € for a module. Since the excavation company also has branches in other European countries, the Europe-wide recognition of further training is particularly interesting for archaeologists.

Coaching, training, advice

Coaches, trainers and Adviser are available for almost all situations and problems. There are financial and management consultants, career coaches and application trainers, wellness consultants, rhetoric– or motivational speaker. Humanities scholars have usually learned to reflect on their own actions, to organize their own work optimally, to approach problems in a structured manner, and to be flexible towards others People to deal with and recognize and resolve conflicts. However, they usually lack the specific expertise to address the concerns of potential customers to satisfy. This is where further training can be useful.

Definitions and delimitations

The differences between coaching, training and consulting are fluid, but a few key features can be named. Coaching is a structured and methodical learning counseling that supports the customer in a biographical change, professionally or privately, by making connections visible and opening up options for action. Coaches support the individual learning process through consultations and analyze together with the customer what the customer would like to change. In addition to specialist knowledge, it is primarily a question of psychological sensitivity. Training is a goal-oriented and methodically guided approach that expands skills and insights. Trainers are methodologically close to teachers, but have no educational mandate. Consulting is an analysis of an initial situation supported by expertise combined with recommendations for process and result improvement. In contrast to coaching, however, the change process is not accompanied. Consultants are therefore less distinguished by their psychological sensitivity than by well-founded specialist knowledge.

So far, one looks in vain for a uniformly structured training or further education as well as a clear job description. With the exception of management consultancies, permanent positions are the exception; the rule is self-employment. None of the job titles are protected by law, but it makes sense to prove your skills with a nationally recognized qualification if possible.

case study

A theologian would like to advise and coach people who are under a lot of work-related stress in order to create a balance between work and private life. You can find comprehensive information on various further training courses at the German Association for Coaching and Training eV (DVCT). This also provides various further training courses certified by the association itself. One of them leads to the certificate “Systemischer Coach”. At Costs a one-off processing fee of €490 and a course fee of €290 per month will be charged. The theologian thinks that this price for a certificate without a final exam, which also only proves skills that she already has, is too high. She would rather do further training that would also give her in-depth knowledge of Psychology mediated and recognized by the state. She therefore begins further training to become a "psychological consultant according to the Heilpraktikergesetz (HPG)". This further training takes place over 20 months in evening and weekend courses or over 14 months as an intensive training course. It consists of a basic course that Basics of psychology, a counseling and therapy course and exam preparation. The training costs €8.500. The theologian could also work through the material in self-study and then take the state examination in front of the health department, but the diarrhea rate is considered to be very high.

pitfalls

The Investment However, it will only be worthwhile if the theologian finds enough wealthy customers, because unlike graduates of a psychological or medical university course, who are the only ones who are allowed to use the legally protected professional titles of psychologist or psychotherapist, psychological consultants cannot bill their services through health insurance companies. The Association of Independent Psychotherapists, Alternative Practitioners for Psychotherapy and Psychological Counselors eV (vfp.de) provides more information. The professional association of German psychologists is rather skeptical about the not always well-trained competition (bdp-verband.org).

Economy

The MBA has already been discussed elsewhere. Management training in the form of an additional degree is only a topic for those who are striving for a management position. Many humanities scholars, on the other hand, have difficulty finding a job because they lack basic business knowledge.

Case study 1

An Anglicist would like to get into public relations. However, she has to realize that many companies expect their Employees familiar with balance sheets, HR development and legal issues. The anglist therefore opts for the Xpert Business Master with a focus on human resources (business-zertifikate.de). To do this, she chooses eight modules from different areas such as finance, wages and salaries, human resources management, personnel development, controlling or law and Finance. She has to invest €50 per module. During the further training, which takes place in the evenings and at weekends, she works in various companies and makes contacts. In the end she finds a job, not in public relations, but in a human resources department.

Case study 2

A Germanist who worked as a freelancer for various advertising agencies during and after his studies takes a different approach. Since freelance work as a copywriter seems too uncertain for him in the long term, he attends further training to become a specialist for Advertising and communication with IHK examination and pays €2.390 for it. After this further training, the communication and media theory, Marketing, law and general economics, the Germanist has a clear application advantage and gets a permanent position at an advertising agency. In order to improve his chances of advancement in the long term, he is considering doing the IHK business economist, which also qualifies him for management tasks.

How do you find the optimal training? Systematic search

Of course, the easiest way is to compare the manageable number of offers from regional training providers and select the further training that seems most suitable for your personal purpose. Probably most decisions for further education are made in this way. It doesn't have to be the worst way, but it's often not the best either. Rather, one runs the risk of wasting time and Money to invest in further education that is less useful than what is offered in another city or at a previously unknown institute. In any case, the most useful thing is a systematic search.

Spoiled for choice - lack of quality standards

In contrast to school or university education, the further education market is largely dominated by private institutions. On the one hand, this means freedom and diversity, but on the other hand there is little state control and hardly any quality standards. And as always, there are good and bad deals. This not only applies to the content, but also to the degrees: In addition to state-recognized degrees, many trainers also award their own certificates. Since their acceptance on the labor market cannot be taken for granted, the quality of these offers must be checked very carefully. In view of around 35.000 providers with around 400.000 different training programs, however, it is easy to get an overview verlieren. Therefore, the search should be based on clearly defined prerequisites from the outset. The first thing to consider is what personal goals you are pursuing with the further training. Should the further training serve, for example, to deepen existing skills, acquire new specialist knowledge or expand personal skills? Is it important that the degree is recognized by as many companies as possible and that it has a clear application advantage? Does the further training have to take place nearby or should it be flexible in terms of time? What can the training cost?

Search in online databases

Those who have made themselves aware of their goals in this way can now begin the actual, systematic search. For a first limitation are relevant Online-Databases useful: 89 databases are available on the Internet, mostly publicly funded. An overview can be found in the meta search engine InfoWebweiterbilung (IWWB). Interesting in this context are the further training tests of the Stiftung Warentest, which have been carried out regularly since 2002 with the support of the Federal Ministry of Education and Research and can be downloaded from weiterbildungstest.de. Stiftung Warentest tested ten online databases: Seminus and Seminarmarkt performed best. Both offer, similar to the also tested databases Seminarbörse, Seminarshop, Seminarfuchs and Seminare.de, primarily courses in the areas of IT, management or Presentation at. By far the largest and most comprehensive database is KURS from the Federal Employment Agency with 520.000 offers. Interested parties can look for further training here and indicate which profession they are aiming for. WIS, the database of the Chamber of Industry and Commerce and the Chamber of Crafts, is quite slow, but offers a lot of information on IHK exams and numerous Checklists. In the databases of the IHK for individual federal states, the search for detailed information for your own region is promising.

What do databases do?

But not all databases are created equal. The Stiftung Warentest recommends the databases for Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania and Hamburg in particular. If you are looking for languageCourses abroad, you can search Language-Learning.net. Ploetus offers an overview of further training in Germany and other European countries. In addition to links to public and private educational institutions, adult education centers and universities, helpful information on funding opportunities and European exchange programs can be found here. In addition, Ploteus points out the online route to introductions to the different education systems in the European countries and also knows where basic country information is available – on the cost of living Taxes and social contributions or the legal framework for study and work.

Databases in the test

Overall, however, no database was rated better than satisfactory. Above all, the inadequate search functions were criticized: there are no introductory explanations on how to use the database or link options between location and search term. Spelling mistakes in the search term are also often not tolerated. Therefore, the search terms should be entered correctly and the search should be supplemented with additional options. Further disadvantages are the often insufficient information about the trainers and the fact that the data is not up to date. Not all of theCourses listed are guaranteed to take place - some are canceled, for example if the required number of participants has not been reached (cf. Editor Stiftung Warentest 2003). Therefore, it is targeted for selection makes sense to use several databases. If at least a preliminary decision has been made, interested parties should contact the respective provider directly to obtain further information.

Advice offers

Anyone who would like to rely on competent help in view of the unmanageable range of services can take advantage of various free advisory services. But here, too, it is important to take a close look, because not all further training advice is sensible. The advisors from chambers such as the IHK or other professional associations know the regional labor market very well, but often recommend their own further training courses, which are usually more suitable for interested parties who are already in the profession. Unfortunately, municipal further training and women's advice centers are not yet available across the board. The employment advisors, who are responsible for advising on further training at the local employment agencies, primarily help recipients of unemployment benefits I and II, who have better chances of finding a job after completing further training. Interested parties can also get advice from the educational institutions themselves. This has the advantage that the advice is precisely tailored to the individual further training measure. However, a test by Stiftung Warentest also shows here that this advice cannot be recommended unreservedly: the question of whether state funding is possible is often the focus, because the problem of Financing employs many people who want to continue their education. The counseling centers have responded to this question, but do not always respond flexibly to individual cases. The important quality features such as training and practical experience of the lecturers, the job market opportunities after the end of the course or the personal aptitude requirements are often neglected (cf. Editor Stiftung Warentest 2004a).

Quality control

Since the various advice centers cannot always be trusted blindly, it is necessary to pay attention to the decisive quality features yourself. So, at least, the likelihood of mistakes clear be reduced. In Germany, however, there are various assessment systems for further training that assess according to different criteria.

Training reference system wbmonitor

The training reference system wbmonitor set up by the BMBF and BIBB has built up a pool of around 4.500 training providers who are surveyed once or twice a year on current topics such as quality assurance measures or quality goals. The results can be accessed on the BIBB website. Comprehensive statistical data on the quality and acceptance of further training offers on the labor market are otherwise not collected. After all, interested parties can ask the respective professional associations whether such data is available for their region, for example.

quality features

Those who do not want to rely on the organizers' statements can orientate themselves on objective quality features. The further training offers that the Federal Agency promotes through education vouchers are certified by independent private agencies, whose suitability in turn must be confirmed by the Federal Agency. It is checked, for example, whether the training provider can provide suitable rooms and can guarantee reasonable teaching conditions, whether the lecturers have sufficient qualifications and whether the providers support the subsequent integration into the profession - this should be an important aspect for anyone interested in further training. Only certified offers were included in the KURS database of the Federal Agency. Even those who do not receive an education voucher from the Federal Agency can use this pre-selection to get an initial overview of the quality of various offers. In addition, the quality concepts are often advertised or reference is made to quality assurance or quality management. They often do this with reference to a certificate in accordance with the international set of standards DIN EN ISO 9000 ff. But be careful: It is not the quality of a product, i.e. the training course, that is certified, but rather the procedure for ensuring a quality defined by the provider himself. So it's not about the lessons themselves, but above all about the work processes and organizational structures within the educational institution.

Seal of quality and quality

A good way of filtering out reputable providers are the seals of quality and approval. These provide information on whether a company is a member of a regional quality seal association or a quality ring. As a rule, companies that offer further training for a specific occupational field have come together in these and have thus committed themselves to adhering to firmly defined quality standards. But be careful: In principle, dubious providers can also create their own quality seal and advertise with it - there are no legal regulations for this. So if you are seriously interested in a measure, you should check which criteria were used as the basis for the award of the quality seal and whether the seal is also recognized nationwide. The German Association for Coaching and Training eV (DVCT) offers a good insight into an award procedure, which lists exactly what is important to the association. Anyone interested in further training in a specific industry should ask the relevant professional associations which quality seals are available and by whom these are recognized.

On the other hand, not every provider without a seal of quality is dubious. However, care should be taken to ensure that the quality goals are disclosed and it is clear how they are to be achieved. If information on the quality concept is refused, caution is required.

Requirements of the participants

Some organizers like to put participants of different levels together. The question here is whether all course participants have the same requirements. Is the desired course also suitable for your own previous knowledge and skills? Which exam will be taken at the end? Is this state-owned and / or is it recognized on the labor market? Particularly with language and IT qualifications, attention should be paid to international or Europe-wide recognition. And is the duration of the course in proportion to the educational goal? Fast-track courses on fantasy topics are just as critical as weeks of exercises in basic skills. Is the desired goal even realistic? The provider should provide information about the amount of work required to achieve it - and everyone should honestly assess whether they can and will do this. How many lessons are there per day, when are they, does the timetable fit into your own daily rhythm?

Learning atmosphere and curriculum

An optimal learning atmosphere is very important: The larger the groups, the cheaper the course - but the less the lecturer can respond to the individual. What do classrooms and equipment look like? Computer workstations should be up-to-date. The training, qualifications and experience of the lecturers must also be right. Caution is advised if the lecturers change frequently, as this indicates poor working conditions at the institution. What are the curricula, what methods (eg role-playing games, computers, discussion groups, etc.) are used? The teaching material should also be examined in advance: is it didactically well prepared and up to date? It also makes sense to design further training in a practical way: If internships and project work are included or part of the further training is completed in a company, the chances of employment increase. Subsequent integration into the profession should therefore be supported, e.g. through comprehensive advice, the placement of internships or other contacts with the Economy. Are there statistics: How many graduates found a job after completing the measure? What is the failure rate? What about participant satisfaction? This is all before the final decision to consider, should the training meet the desired Success bring.

Trial lessons and contacts

Anyone who attends a trial lesson in the chosen training measure also gets a realistic impression of the quality of further training. This is the best way to get to know the lecturer and the course rooms. Last but not least, this shows whether the chemistry with the lecturer is right - that is of great importance for the learning success Significance. A is just as helpful Conversation with the participants of the measure or with previous graduates. A Contact can be made, for example, via the bulletin board.

Continuing education legislation

In numerous federal states there are adult and further education laws with strict requirements for further trainers. The federal states want to secure the quality of the educational offers with the corresponding ordinances. They issue legal regulations for the evaluation of offers and make requirements for quality development as a prerequisite for state recognition. The laws give a good overview of which quality standards are required in the respective federal state.

Costs and funding

The Federal Institute for Vocational Training surveyed 2000 participants in further training. According to the study, an average of €895 is spent on further training. 14% of the participants have none due to government funding expenditure. 21% of participants pay up to around €99, 46% bear costs between €100 and €999. 19% of the participants have to pay more than €1.000, and 4% of them even more than €5.000 (cf. Confession, Krekel, Walden 2004, 40). The more demanding the initial occupation, the more extensive and longer training courses the participants choose. The costs for further training are accordingly higher for well-trained people such as humanities scholars than for the average of all further training participants.

Differences in quality and price

However, further training should not only be selected with a view to costs, because that would mean comparing apples with oranges. Quality plays a central role, although high costs do not automatically mean good quality - this has been proven by numerous tests. The often considerable price differences are usually due to factors such as the reputation of the school, the duration of the lessons or the number of participants.

Price examples

Here are a few simple examples of the price-performance ratio for IT and languageCourses: At a chamber you pay 330 € for a course in Spreadsheet I: MS-Excel for a total of 33 lessons of 45 minutes on three days. A private education provider charges € 2000 for a basic Excel 7 / XP course with 207,64 lessons on just one day. However, only a maximum of 8 participants are allowed per course, which promises better learning success, and each lesson has 50 minutes. An English language course at a private company costs between € 420 (for simple languageCourses) and € 500 (for work-related languageCourses and conversation), all courses have a total of 60 hours of instruction. To compare the prices of an adult education center: 26 lessons, regardless of the level, cost a total of € 72,80, if more than 10 people take part in the course, the price drops to € 52. Again, larger classes are not conducive to learning and community collegeCourses generally do not have the best reputation. And even if the course was good, a certificate from a reputable private provider may be more useful in the job market.

Expensive onlineCourses

Those who want to do online training via the Internet on their home computer have to dig deeper into their pockets. As a rule, the participants in such a training course regularly receive learning materials and assignments, which are sent by eMail be sent back to the proofreader. In addition, face-to-face events take place and the examination dates, to which the participants must appear in person, are also fixed centrally organized. Of course, this form of learning is particularly useful for those who cannot or do not want to change their place of residence, but there are a few disadvantages. In the past, the quality of onlineCourses was often criticized. Out of 14 onlineCourses, Stiftung Warentest only rated three as good, most of which were criticized for outdated teaching materials, a lack of interactivity and technical problems. Overall, the quality of the teaching is not consistent enough in relation to the high costs and the Internet, with its interactive and multimedia possibilities, is still rarely used, and its use is often limited to communication by e-mail eMail (see test 10/2001).

Share of fees

In the case of non-company training courses, the participation fees make up 27% of the total expenditure, 24% are accounted for by computer and learning materials. The exams are also not always included. The travel costs to the regular face-to-face events make up an average of 16% of the costs, accommodation and meals away from home make up 3%. A possible income waiver of an average of € 235 per further training should also be taken into account. In view of the high costs, it is worth taking a look at the payment methods: Is it possible to pay in installments? If I withdraw from the contract, will I get back the fees already paid? Is there a money-back guarantee if you don't like it? Here you should take comprehensive advice from the education provider and, above all, check the contract very carefully.

Savings

Further training courses in which, depending on previous education, only individual modules are attended are significantly cheaper. Information on whether advanced training courses have a modular structure is initially provided by the databases already mentioned, but also by the providers themselves. Sometimes it is also possible to take an external examination without having previously attended a course. Of course, this requires appropriate knowledge. Anyone who is interested should ask the professional associations exactly under which conditions an external examination can be taken, but also honestly consider whether they really have the necessary self-discipline and self-motivation. Above all, it is important to know how high the success rate is for an external exam.

Time consuming

If you want to calculate the costs for further training, you not only have to take into account the various fees and expenses for material resources, but also the time required. Statistically, about 550 hours of free time per year have to be invested in further training, 200 hours should be invested again for Information, preparation and follow-up as well as travel times are included (cf. Confession, Krekel, Walden 2004.

Who bears the costs?

As a rule, you have to bear the costs for further professional development yourself. In contrast to doctorates and postgraduateCourses, you cannot reach into the well-known “student” pots here. However, there are other financing options for those interested in continuing education.

Federal agency for work

Funding is most often provided by the Federal Employment Agency. Since 2003, this organization has been issuing training vouchers on which the type, scope and duration of the further training are precisely recorded. Funding is available for further training courses lasting up to two years. Anyone who is interested in further training then has three months to look for a suitable measure. However, getting an education voucher is not easy: As a rule, only those who receive unemployment benefits receive funding. Otherwise, the agency sees no need for action. And even if this condition is met, there must generally be good prospects of employment after further training. This can be done with some employment agencies Jobs prove, others practically demand a certificate from the future boss and still others only award education vouchers up to a certain age limit. Anyone who wants to apply for an education voucher from the employment agency is usually dependent on their employment advisor or case manager. It's easier to get funding to take part in a shorter training course that lasts up to twelve weeks. For example, computer or language skills can be acquired. It is always useful to refer to the direct benefit of the desired measure on the labor market.

Foundations and organizations

There are also foundations for particularly gifted people who are willing to continue their education or for those interested in individual professions, which take over the financing of certain measures. If you apply here, you should know that high expectations are placed on you – but you can try. The foundation index provides information about which further training courses are funded. The Leonardo da Vinci program of the European Union is aimed at trainees and Boy Employees as well as students and university graduates who can be supported with around €300 per month if they want to do an internship abroad. The exact amount of the support depends on the amount of the internship fee. The beneficiary receives a total of €500 per month. The internships with a duration of three to twelve months must be completed in a company in another EU country or in Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway or one of the candidate countries for EU accession and recognized in Germany. Also the Organization for International Personnel Development, Further Education and Dialogue (INWENT) awards funding for vocational training and further education at technical and Executives and university graduates. INWENT supports practical stays abroad lasting up to 12 months, eg in Great Britain, Norway and Japan. The organization also sponsors internships in Brazil and the Pacific region for junior executives, as well as career training and Work and study stays in the USA. Prerequisites for participation are usually a completed apprenticeship or a completed basic course, foreign language skills and, if possible, initial professional experience. Some of the participants have to pay a registration fee of around €400, organize the trip themselves or make some other personal contribution.

Dual vocational training and retraining

The Job Search can be very difficult for humanities scholars. There is a lack of practice-relevant qualifications and entry into professional life is not possible. In addition to a time-consuming and expensive second degree, dual vocational training or retraining in a state-recognized apprenticeship according to the Vocational Training Act (BBiG) is also an option after completing a humanities degree. Dual vocational training is carried out in companies and vocational schools and lasts two to three years.

Advantages of dual vocational training

Adding dual vocational training to a university degree may seem absurd to many at first - after all, you have studied and want to do something with the knowledge you have acquired. Not infrequently, however, detours lead to success. Further training and postgraduateCourses are usually expensive, you get a low salary during the training, it takes place directly in a company, which increases the chances of being hired increasesIn addition, the training is completed in a relatively short time and, unlike many further training courses, is state-regulated by § 25 BBiG, which guarantees a certain quality.

Disadvantages of dual vocational training

Of course, there are also some disadvantages: First of all you have to find a training place at all, which can fail due to over-qualification, age, but also lack of previous knowledge. In addition, many trainees want to visit the vocational school, and at the latest the age difference to the other, significantly younger trainees is problematic.

Nevertheless, if you are at the end of your liberal arts degree seriously struggling with not having studied business administration, a commercial apprenticeship could be the right thing for you. The employment agency's career counselors can provide initial information.

case study

The example of a linguist shows that the detour from a university degree via vocational training can lead to success: In the course of her studies, working on the computer had become her hobby, she had even learned several programming languages. After graduating, it quickly became clear to her that she would have far better chances in the IT job market than in the traditional fields of work for humanities scholars. One possibility would have been to become self-employed with the knowledge you already have, something as a web designer, a profession to which access is not regulated by state training. However, she felt too insecure to practice immediately and also needed proof of her skills. Since she did not want to invest either time or money in a multi-year further education or even in a computer science degree, she decided on a dual vocational training as an IT specialist. She now receives a regular, albeit not high, salary and will have completed her training after two and a half years. After that, she strives for a job that demands both her linguistic and technical expertise, for example as a programmer for language databases.

retraining

A training occupation can also be learned through retraining, for which, however, a fee must be paid. Retraining does not take place directly in a company, but in a teaching institute and, like any other further training, can be funded through the Federal Employment Agency. For those interested, the BIBB offers an overview of possible retraining professions on its website.

Checklist: How to find the right professional training!

Selected Literature

Confession, Ursula / Krekel, Elisabeth M. / Walden, Günter 2004: Professional training - what costs do the participants bear? In: Vocational Training in Science and Practice (BWP), 2/2004.

[This journal is published by the Federal Institute for Vocational Education and Training.]

Confession, Ursula / Schiel, Stefan / Timmermann, Dieter 2004: Professional training - how do participants and non-participants differ? In: Vocational Training in Science and Practice (BWP), 1/2004.

German Education Council (Ed.) 1970: Recommendations of the Education Commission, Structure Plan for Education. Stuttgart.

Dewe, Bernd / Wiesner, Gisela / Zeuner, Christine (eds.) 2004: REPORT 1/2004. Milieus, work, knowledge: reality in adult education. Management and organizational development. Bielefeld.

Janson, Simone 2005a: Dealing with the employment office. Frankfurt.

[The Guide briefly summarizes the laws and regulations that are important to individuals in the areas of labor law and benefits. It also provides information on the topics of further education and self-employment and contains checklists, exercises and tips for the Implementation of suggestions.]

Kade, Jochen / Nittel, Dieter / Seitter, Wolfgang 1999: Introduction to adult education / further education. Stuttgart, Berlin, Cologne.

[The introduction gives an overview of the history, theory, research and possible occupational fields of adult education. The book contains notes for students and a detailed appendix with addresses and references.]

Kuwan et al. 2003: Reporting system for continuing education VIII. Published by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research.

[This survey has been carried out every three years since 1979; it is based on representative oral population surveys. This makes it possible to compare the demand for further training over a longer period of time.]

Editor Stiftung Warentest 2003: Training databases. Neither is perfect. In: Stiftung Warentest online, 26.6.2003. Download from weiterbildungstest.de> tests.

Editor Stiftung Warentest 2004a: Further education. Alone in a wide hallway. In: Stiftung Warentest online, April 23.4.2004, XNUMX. Download from weiterbildungstest.de> tests.

Editor Stiftung Warentest 2004b: Further education databases. Which database will help you. In: Stiftung Warentest online, November 1.11.2004, XNUMX. Download from weiterbildungstest.de> tests.

[Information on the subject of eLearning can be downloaded from weiterbildungstest.de> Info documents.]

Tippelt, Rudolf 1999: Handbook for Adult Education / Further Education. Opladen.

Website:

bdh-online.de

[The website of the Association of German Alternative Practitioners offers information on the professional profile of alternative practitioners and specialist training.]

Officials4u.de

[The advisor portal gives tips on financial support for further training. Downloadable for a fee under> Authority Guide> Employment Office.]

bibb.de

[On the homepage of the Federal Institute for Vocational Education and Training (BIBB) you can research relevant specialist literature on the subject of vocational education and training research from 1988 in a literature database> Publications. A checklist can be downloaded from bibb.de/de/checkliste.htm, which supports those interested in deciding on a technically suitable and high-quality further training measure.]

bmbf.de

[The homepage of the Federal Ministry of Education and Research also contains articles on re-entry into vocational training and new forms of teaching and learning> Education> Continuing education and lifelong learning.]

cdg.de/ibs

[The programs of Carl Duisburg Society (CDG) are aimed at specialists and managers. The CDG promotes the internationality of the economy, it is committed to the practical further development of educational offers and supports international exchange programs. The website contains links to programs that promote further education abroad.]

die-frankfurt.de

[The German Institute for Adult Education (DIE) is a forum for science and practice in continuing education. The homepage contains a database with various further training offers> Service.]

dvct.de

[The German Association for Coaching and Training (DVCT) is committed to quality in the field of coaching and training. On the homepage you can find institutes that train to become coaches or trainers.]

europa.eu.int/ploteus

[PLOTEUS, the portal for learning opportunities across Europe made available by the European Commission, offers with its homepage support in the search for training and further education opportunities, exchange programs and grants.]

europa.inwent.org

[The Society for International Further Education and Development (INWENT) offers education and exchange programs. Information on this is available on the homepage.]

http://infobub.arbeitsagentur.de/kurs

[In this database of the Federal Employment Agency you can search for further training opportunities, for which the duration and fees are often given.]

iwwb.de

[The website of InfoWeb Further Education (IWWB) is created in cooperation with the German Education Server. The aim of the IWWB is to create a central, uniform access to further training offers. The homepage contains links to further training databases and research options.]

na-bibb.de

[On the homepage of the National Agency of the Federal Institute for Vocational Education and Training (BIBB), information on the European Union's program of action for vocational education can be obtained> Leonardo da Vinci.]

language-learning.net

[This website contains the world's largest directory of languageCourses and language schools. Various criteria can be searched for in the database. In addition, information on language certificates, online learning resources and funding opportunities can be found on the homepage.]

http://www.seminarboerse.de / seminare.de / seminarfuchs.de / seminarmarkt.de / http://www.seminus.de

[These seminar portals of private companies enable access to databases with various further training offers.]

stiftungsindex.de

[The Federal Association of German Foundations provides a brief overview of national and international foundations that award funding for further education on its website.]

tekom.de

[The Society for Technical Communication (tekom) is the German trade association for technical communication and sees itself as a platform for the exchange of information and experience. Tekom supports the training and further education of its members. Your homepage contains information on this.]

vfp.de

[The Association of Independent Psychotherapists, Alternative Practitioners for Psychotherapy and Psychological Consultants (VFP) is a professional association to represent the interests of its members. On the homepage there are numerous references to further training opportunities and the job description.]

http://weiter.bildung.hessen.de

[The education server of the state of Hessen offers links to the further education laws of all federal states under weiter.bildung.hessen.de/wb_ueberregional/wb_bundeslaender/wb_gesetze.%5D

furtherbildungstest.de

[The results of further training tests, which are carried out several times a year, are found on the Stiftung Warentest website. These tests evaluate the quality of professional development.]

wis.ihk.de

[The nationwide Further Education Information System (WIS) of the Chambers of Commerce and Industry offers current further education news on its homepage and recommends various newsletters on vocational education.]

xpert-certificates.de

[Xpert is an umbrella brand of the German adult education centers and European educational institutions and stands for a standardized advanced training system with a modular structure for the certification of professional and personal skills in the job. The homepage contains a database in which you can search for Xpert seminars.]