Chapter 72

Germany

The German Zentralstelle für ausländisches Bildungswesen informs those authorities which are in charge of the recognition of academic degrees. Moreover, it gives advice to those institutions which are working on the sector of vocational recognition.

The Zentralstelle is part of the Ständige Konferenz der Kultusminister der Länder in der Bundesrepublik Deutschland (KMK) and can be contacted under the person of Dr. Günther RIEHL.

As only the relevant institutions are able to decide on the matter of recognition, the Zentralstelle has no authority to rule in these affairs. On the contrary, it can only support the institutions concerned by giving advice. Thus, it does inform e.g. ministries, universities or courts of justice in the sector of academic recognition which themselves have to decide on the validity of a submitted certificate of vocational training.

With regard to the sector of vocational recognition, the Zentralstelle is only able to give advice, too. It informs about all questions relating to the general guideline of the EU and co-operates with the centres of information in other member states of the EU.

The following institutions are concerned with academic recognition:

for the admission to courses of study within the first academic year: the responsible universities or examination boards or,
for courses of study with restricted entry (Numerus Clausus): the Zentralstelle für die Vergabe von Studienplätzen (ZVS);
for the exemption from certain parts of the course of study: the responsible university or examination board
for the admission to exams: the responsible university or, for state exams (esp. in medicine, law and any kind of teacher training): the responsible examination board
The following institutions are concerned with vocational recognition:
for the conferment of teaching qualifications: the responsible ministry of education
for the training of a medical job: the responsible ministry of health

Moreover, foreign students who return to their countries after having studied in Germany can obtain a general description of their respective course of study and the vocational perspectives involved at the Zentralstelle.

Address:

Zentralstelle für ausländisches Bildungswesen im Sekretariat der Ständigen Konferenz der Kultusminister der Länder in der Bundesrepublik Deutschland (KMK)
Nassestr. 8
D - 53113 Bonn
Phone: (49) 228 - 5010
Telex: 886.587 kmk.d
Fax: (49) 228 - 501.301

Equivalence of foreign examination certificates on the basis of bilateral agreements on education

Germany concluded such contracts with France in 1977 and with Austria in 1990. On the basis of a comparative study of examination requirements and training programmes, 323 German examination certificates for skilled workers have been given parity of treatment to 30 French and 293 Austrian certificates up to December 1996. Since the German Handwerksordnung was amended in 1994, parity between foreign examinations for master craftman's diploma and German Handwerksmeisterprüfung can be given as well. For some certificates, corresponding agreements were contracted with Austria and France in 1996.

Apart from this method of giving parity of treatment, examination certificates have been developed by professional and economic associations which are recognised by several member states on the basis of national examination standards:

The German trade corporations in Cologne and Kassel conducted journeyman's examinations for electricians and mechanics in the English language in a training centre of the Irish FÁS. This project proved that it is possible to conduct the German final examination with only slight differences but more efforts in another country and another language.

Since 1988, the IHK Aachen is conducting a binational examination for skilled workers in the metal industry with the corresponding authority in the Netherlands. German youths have to pass an examination at a Dutch committee according to Dutch law. The same goes for Dutch youths. The theoretical parts of the examination are mutually recognised.

Following an initiative of the national association and chambers, a trilateral examination is planned as an additional qualification for the education of florists in Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands.

Perspectives

One possibility for a further encouragement of European co-operation are pilot schemes which are to develop European standards that are put into practice by the European educational programme LEONARDO. An example for this is the development of a European curriculum in the motor vehicle industry. The initiative for these minimum standards should start out from the economic sector or the social parties. In order to support the principle of subsidiary and the different forms of national organisation, minimum standards are to be developed as a means of recommendation for the national contractors. For the longer term, European vocational certificates might develop out of these measures.