Seminar in Germany and France

February is the shortest month of the year and this year it was the busiest. I took part in occupational mobility program “Modern models of career guidance for students on the example of Germany and France”.

During this program with the group of teachers we visited some European countries and examined career guidance at the establishments of education.

In Berlin we were informed about  Germany's Dual System of vocational education  and training at Senate Department for Education, Youth and Science. 

A dual education system combines training in a company and vocational education at a vocational school in one course. Dual system of education means building career education into the curriculum and linking it to students’ overall development.

Berlin is a unique city and has many different cultural layers and a lot of places of interest. We had a guided city tour in Berlin and saw the most beautiful sites: Unter den Linden (street under the linden trees), Potsdamer Platz, TV-Tower, Red City Hall, Victory Column. We also visited some exciting places in Berlin: Berlin's Museum Island, Reichstag, Berlin Wall (East Side Gallery), Brandenburg Gate and some other. It was awesome!

Then we visited BKWB (Berufskolleg Werther Brücke). It’s a college of vocational training and higher professional education in the heart of Wuppertal, North-Rhine Westphalia, Germany.

Career guidance plays a key role in helping students decide on a job or a course, to the broader development of career management skills.

At BKWB students are taught in the fields of mechanical engineering and business studies and ICT. The main educational goal is to convey the necessity and usefulness of abilities such as: conflict management, presentation techniques, communication skills, intercultural competence, self-management, planning and organisation, consciousness for values.

The College has modern well-equipped laboratories, workshops, and computer-rooms where students are introduced to performing the different tasks.

Training at this college motivates the students to achieve their best and they improve the chance on the labour market.

Later we had an excursion to one of the most beautiful cities of North-Rhine Westphalia to Cologne. The greatest city attraction is Cologne Cathedral. This church is really amazing! We also had a foot tour to the old town with the Rhine panorama. During World War II more than 70 percent of the city area of Cologne was destroyed and later it was completely rebuild.

Next day we went to France. France has also a very singular approach in the educational system. The French educational system is highly centralized and organized. Education is the expression of the project of the French nation.

We had a very interesting seminar at Ciep (Centre international d’etudes pedagogiques) in the city of Sevres. We were informed about educational system in France, stages of education and their peculiarities and so on.

Schooling in France is obligatory at of age 6, the first year of primary school. A big difference is evident at the primary school. Many parents start sending their children earlier to school, e.g. 20% pupils go to school at the age of 2. A key role plays a philosophical vision promoted by the French revolution.

The Centre of Pedagogical Studies is situated in the building of former Royal Porcelain Manufactory in Sevres not far from Paris and Versailles. So, after the Ciep we went to the Palace of Versailles – the Royal residence of French kings from the time of Louis XIV to Louis XVI. Nowadays it’s a one of the greatest tourist centres in France.

In Paris we spent three unforgettable days. First we saw Paris at night from Seine river cruise. There are so many places to visit in Paris!

We did the triumphal way from the Louvre Museum to Tuileries, Place de la Concorde, Champs Elysees, up to Arc de Triomphe. We visited the most prominent places of interest such as Louvre, The Eifel Tower, Notre-Dame de Paris. We also had a walking tour of Montmartre, where we visited famous places, and especially I was impressed by the church of Sacre-Couer.

I am grateful to the International Affairs Centre (Minsk) for organizing the mobility program and the trip to the most interesting European cities.