As part of the bilateral TVET cooperation between BMBF and DHET, the bilateral expert workshop provided a platform for an expert dialogue to highlight challenges and best practices. Experts from South Africa and Germany presented insights into their work and encouraged mutual learning.
In the first part of the workshop, Professor Stephanie Allais, South Africa, and Dr. Tobias Maier, BIBB, shared current research findings on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the labor market and the vocational education and training situation in both countries. Stephanie Allais presented the South African Set of 10 Interventions, which aims to provide systemic support in addressing the COVID-19 challenges. This includes, for example, more flexible adaptation of curricula and further access to workplace experience.
The second part of the event was devoted to responsive approaches to teaching and learning in COVID-19, with a particular focus on digital tools and pedagogy. Professor Joy Papier, Trudi van Wyk (DHET) and Dr. Michael Härtel (BIBB) shared their experiences. First successes, challenges and learnings were presented and discussed. Professor Michael Gessler (wb-ibb) was involved here in a reflexive-communicative way in the role of the responder. Finally, the IBB project TRAIME, represented by Carina Adam (ÜBZO) and Sello Sethusha (DHET), presented goals, challenges, solutions and lessons learned.