Summer Semester 2014
Indian Working Group about VET in India - In the context of the 2nd International Conference of the German Research Center for Comparative Vocational Education and Training (G.R.E.A.T.)
22.- 24. September 2014
With help of the Center for Modern Indian Studies, supported by DAAD and BMBF, eleven guest researches from all over India came to Cologne to contribute to and participate in a Working Group on Vocational Education and Training in India during the 2nd International Conference of the German Research Center for Comparative Vocational Education and Training (G.R.E.A.T.).
After the big success in 2010, the G.R.E.A.T. at the Chair of Economics and Business Education at the University of Cologne (Prof. Dr. Matthias Pilz), hold the 2nd International conference. The conference under the main topic “Youth in Transition: Vocational Education and Training in Times of Economic Crisis” took place at the University of Cologne from September 22nd to 24th. Main objective of the conference was the exchange of experiences and knowledge between leading academics and experts in the field of Vocational Education and Training (VET). The experts came from various countries all over the world, e.g. Australia, South Africa, and the United States, from China, India as well as many other Asian nations and numerous European countries. With help of the Center for Modern Indian Studies, supported by DAAD and BMBF, we were able to welcome eleven guest researchers from all over India.
The three-day event welcomed 135 conference participants, which discussed international questions, problems, and perspectives on various VET-issues, such as policy and comparative research, transitions, pre-vocational education, initial and further training, quality assurance in VET and much more.
Shyamal Majumdar, Head of UNESCO-UNEVOC, delivered an opening speech by introducing UNESCO’s and UNESCO-UNEVOC’s work in the field of TVET. Keynote speakers were Prof. Dr. Lorna Unwin (University of London), Prof. Dr. Robert Lerman (American University, Washington DC), Prof. Dr. Paul Ryan (King's College, Cambridge University), Prof. Dr. Tara S. Nayana (Indian Institute of Management Bangalore) and Prof. Dr. Philipp Gonon (University of Zurich).
Beside the key note speeches in the plenary hall, several parallel sessions and working groups gave a platform for discussion in smaller groups. The working groups had different country-specific thematic priorities. One of the working groups addressed VET in India. The focus was on skill development as well as on challenges and opportunities in the informal VET-sector. During the working group the audience had the chance to discuss with the guest speakers as well as with other Indian and international experts.
On September 25th, the day after the conference, the Indian delegation had the chance to visit the Federal Institute for Vocational Education and Training (BIBB) in Bonn. There, the delegates heard presentations about the organization of the German Dual System as well as about the role of the BIBB as one of the main agents in the German VET System.
More information on the 2nd International G.R.E.A.T.-conference can be found here: www.wipaed.uni-koeln.de.
Advisory Board meeting at the Centre for Modern Indian Studies
23. September 2014
On 22 September 2014, this year's advisory board meeting of the Centre for Modern Indian Studies took place. In addition to the center's director, Prof. Dr. Matthias Pilz and the Managing Director Lea Zenner Birgit Thomann, Dr. Madhu Singh, Shyamal Majumdar and Muthuveeran Ramasamy participated as representatives of the Board.
The Advisory Board will focus particularly on the content and strategic direction of the next funding period 2015 to 2017. Additionally selected research projects that could be implemented with the support of the Centre were presented. For example, Mr. Muthuveeran Ramasamy (VIT University Vellore) presented his dissertation project on the topic "demand-driven vocational education and Training for rural people in Tamil Nadu, India".
Guest stay Prof. Dr. V. Badrinath at the chair of economics and business education university of Cologne
16. August 2014
From May 12 to 24, 2014, Prof. Dr. V. Badrinath, dean of the ,,Department of MBA" at the Sastra university (India) visited the university of Cologne at the chair of economics and business education.
During his stay he attented lectures and discussions around the topics entrepreneurship and vocational education in Germany and gave lectures about ,,Talent Management" for bachelor und master students as well as about the higher education system in India.
In the non-universitay field he got among others practical insights at the vocational school at the Lindenstreet (Berufskolleg an der Lindenstraße) in Cologne about the vocational education and training in Germany.
You can find and download the detailted report from Prof. Badrinath here.