Information, coordination and strategy: The Round Table for International Vocational Education and Training Cooperation
Strategic coordination and knowledge exchange were key parts of the work carried out by the Secretariat of the Round Table at GOVET in 2025.
The Round Table (RT) is the federal government’s key means of cohesively structuring international vocational education and training cooperation (iBBZ). Based on the cabinet decisions from 2013 and 2019, it brings together federal ministries, federal states, social partners, chambers and executive organisations to discuss the relevant topics of iBBZ together and coordinate tasks. The Secretariat of the Round Table is part of GOVET and supports the flow of information between the different stakeholders.
Our specialist seminars incorporate insights and best practice examples from the national VET system into international work and build a bridge between theory and practice.
Peter Rechmann, Head of the Secretariat of the Round Table
In 2025 the Secretariat again successfully used the different formats that were developed for information and networking, and stakeholder cooperation and coordination. This was in addition to the regular sessions of the Round Table, in particular the specialist seminars and dialogues, a federal-state-dialogue and a day for experts in the education sector. In 2025 the Secretariat also supported the federal states of Lower Saxony and Schleswig-Holstein and the Foreign Office and its representatives, especially in Armenia, Botswana and Kosovo.
Exchange and coordination of the Round Table sessions
Different constellations were provided for the meetings of the Round Table. The Departments Round Table (RT-R) and the Stakeholders Round Table (RT-A) met regularly in 2025.
The focus areas of the individual federal ministries in the iBBZ were initially at the centre of the RT-R sessions. Over the course of the year, the topic of qualification abroad as part of skilled worker acquisition became the focus of the sessions. As a result of the discussions it was decided to expand the Federal Government’s strategy on international VET cooperation to cover the topic of skilled worker acquisition abroad. The departments addressed this strategic further development in more detail in two RT-R sessions. GOVET worked on a draft for this adapted strategy in close coordination with the departments. The draft was finalised in the RT-R session on 19/03/2026 at the working level.
Qualification abroad and the intersection of iBBZ and skilled worker immigration were also key discussion points for the Stakeholders Round Table of Stakeholders (RT-A). Furthermore, the agenda included the Herning declaration for the strategic new direction of VET cooperation in the EU passed in 2025 and presentations from various stakeholders on their projects in the iBBZ.
Worldwide networking: Round Table at diplomatic missions
Alongside the Round Table in Germany there are currently around 25 Round Tables at German diplomatic missions (RT-A) and in some cases at German Chambers of Commerce Abroad. They provide operative coordination of the German stakeholders in each partner country and are also part of the federal government’s strategy. The Foreign Office is responsible for this.
In 2025 GOVET supported these formats with expert preparation and advice and contributed presentations in some sessions. Examples include Georgia, Ghana, Kazakhstan and Mexico.
GOVET Experts’ Dialogues: Direct coordination, made-to-measure
The GOVET Experts’ Dialogues facilitate an individually coordinated specialist exchange for individuals or small homogeneous groups. In addition to the introduction into German vocational education and training and VET cooperation, they support regional networking and improved information exchange.
In December 2025, four virtual experts’ dialogues were organised for employees at German diplomatic missions (Europa, Asia, Americas, Africa). While these were especially aimed at new consultants, they were also open to all other employees.
GOVET also carried out Round Tables in 2025 with individual stakeholders, including The German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ), the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWE), and the Foreign Office. Additionally, foreign diplomatic missions were informed upon request about German iBBZ as part of experts’ dialogues: In 2025, this was for the Chinese, Kazakh, Malaysian, Maldivian, and Uzbek embassies.
Specialist seminars: Deepen knowledge, broaden perspectives
In addition to the regular sessions of the Round Table, GOVET’s Secretariat of the Round Table organised four virtual specialist seminars in 2025:
- “Learning from others in iBBZ”
- “Use of artificial intelligence in vocational education and training and international VET cooperation”
- “Independent ‘China competence’ in light of China’s growing influence on the global economy”
- “Insights in the German VET system and the implementation of the Youth Guarantee Programme in Germany” (with the European Training Foundation, ETF)
The GOVET specialist seminars not only address current topics in detail and with expertise, but also specifically support transparency between the stakeholders as well as the joint development of ideas and solutions.
In 2025 participants were again representatives of Round Table member organisations, state ministries of the federal states, and German diplomatic missions. The ETF seminar is specifically aimed at VET staff from ETF partner countries in the West Balkans and neighbouring regions.
The GOVET specialist seminar on AI in international vocational education and training cooperation offered an exciting mix of practice and research and an interesting shift in perspective. The meeting showed that AI is already part of our lives: in administrative work, worlds of learning or with chatbots such as Aidy, and not just in Germany but in Europe and all over the world.
Christoph Krause, Head of Mittelstand-Digital Zentrum Handwerk (SME-Digital Centre for Crafts and Trades) at the Koblenz Chamber of Crafts and Trades
To make the results of the expert work permanently and transparently accessible, GOVET redesigned the online documentation of the expert seminars (in German) in 2025. Now there are presentations, summaries and more information after selected seminars read more: Expert dialogues and specialist seminars (in German)
Federal government/states dialogue: increasing interest in iBBZ
To strengthen direct coordination between federal departments and the federal state ministries who are also active in international vocational education and training cooperation (iBBZ), a virtual dialogue between the federal government and federal states took place in October 2025. Representatives from ten federal states and four federal ministries participated.
In recent years, the interface between federal government and federal state has gained importance in iBBZ, in particular due to its increasing relevance for skilled worker acquisition.
Specialist day for the education sector: Dialogue with private education and training providers in iBBZ
In March 2025 GOVET, together with iMOVE, organised a virtual specialist day for the companies in the education sector, an important stakeholder and partner of iBBZ, for the first time. The specialist day gave companies the opportunity to address specialist topics in more detail, with key focus points being certification and sustainability in vocational education and training.
Further developments: Federal state strategies and online documentation
Another focus point of the Round Table in 2025 was on the revision of the federal state strategies for Germany’s international VET cooperation (iBBZ). The new versions for Mexico, India, USA and Italy were revised and coordinated between the stakeholders. This is a significant contribution to the strategic direction and consistency of German involvement in these partner countries.