What the AHKs do for Vocational Education and Training abroad
The AHKs
- advise companies, for example, on the best type of dual vocational training or professional development and the requirements associated with it in the destination country,
- organise and moderate processes in which companies can adapt training content based on German standards and – embedded in the specific framework conditions of a destination country – define it,
- conduct training courses and exams for company training staff using the globally utilised qualification concept "Training of Trainers (AdA) – International",
- network and coordinate all partners involved in training, such as training companies, apprentices, vocational schools, or inter-company training centres,
- advise and support companies at all times on all training matters and advocate for the recognition of qualifications in the destination country,
- organise valid and quality-assured examinations based on DIHK quality standards for AHK vocational training activities and carry them out,
- award participants with an AHK-DIHK certificate after passing the exam, and
- honour training companies with the AHK-DIHK certificate "Outstanding Training Company".
An overview of the vocational education-focused AHKs, individual training professions, and further education offerings is available at https://dihk.twentymedia.de/cms/map_public.
The complete overview of offerings, concepts, and quality management of the DIHK-AHK-IHK network can be found in the DIHK publication "Dual Vocational Education and Training Abroad" (PDF, 3 MB) (only available in German).
The DIHK Competence Centre for International Vocational Training (DIHK-KIBB) is committed to promoting dual vocational training abroad. It was founded by DIHK, DIHK-Bildungs-gGmbH, and DIHK-Service GmbH, thus optimally positioned to utilize all synergy and cooperation potentials within the entire DIHK-AHK-IHK network.
Further Information
- Skills Experts Program
Since 2017, the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action and the German Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DIHK) have launched the program "Skills Experts" to promote the German Chamber of Commerce and Industry's vocational training facilities abroad. Countries such as Indonesia, Vietnam, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, North Macedonia, Kenya, Nigeria, Ghana, South Africa, and Chile were supported from 2017 to 2022. Since 2023, there are new cooperation countries focusing on foundational development, such as the Baltic States (mainly Lithuania), Japan, and Singapore. Brazil (São Paulo) and Turkey complement the Skills Experts countries with a focus on skilled worker immigration to Germany. Following the achieved development horizon in Kenya and Ghana, Uzbekistan (AHK Central Asia) and the AHK Egypt moved up in 2024. The German Chamber of Commerce and Industry's Service GmbH has been coordinating the Skills Experts Program since autumn 2022. The German Chambers of Commerce Abroad (AHKs) also serve as a hub between German and local businesses. Often, their collaboration simultaneously provides vital impulses for improving local vocational training systems, which is why AHKs also offer consultancy services for ministries and other institutions. - AHKs
Information about the worldwide network of German Chambers of Commerce Abroad (AHKs) and contacts at all locations can be found at www.ahk.de.
Commercial Training Abroad
Are you a German citizen interested in pursuing a commercial training abroad?
If so, please directly contact the AHK locations and program coordinators in the Chinese Special Administrative Region Hong Kong (Verena Höhne) and in the Spanish capital Madrid (Tanja Nause).
- Relevant in topic:
- Service Portal
- Key areas:
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- Vocational Training
Contact
Tobias Bolle
Director Vocational Education & Training Abroad