Media kit:text blocks on the BQ-Portal for project participants, assessment authorities and companies
The text blocks below are designed for BQ-Portal project participants and assessment authorities, but also for companies who use the BQ-Portal to help them assess foreign vocational qualifications. You may use them for the purposes of internal and external communications, for example if you would like to provide colleagues, customers or members of the press with information about the portal.
Do you have questions or comments, or do you require support in communication matters? Then please contact Marie-Claire von Radetzky at the project office: Telephone: +49 (0) 221 4981 275 / E-Mail:
As of: March 2016
Option 1:text blocks for assessment authorities
The BQ-Portal – vital support in assessing foreign qualifications
The BQ-Portal is an information platform concerning foreign professional qualifications and serves as a centralised source of information concerning foreign professional qualifications in Germany. At , assessment authorities and companies can find plenty of information that will support them in assessing vocational and further training qualifications obtained abroad.
Since the German Professional Qualifications Assessment Act came into force in April 2012, assessment authorities have faced a significant challenge: they now have to assess numerous foreign professional qualifications and compare qualifications obtained abroad with German qualifications. In the past, however, there was no structured system to store information about foreign professional qualifications, and it was often hard to find. This is why in 2011, the Federal Ministry of Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWi) decided to create the BQ-Portal. This portal serves as an information platform which consolidates relevant information and know-how about foreign professional qualifications and makes it available to the professional chambers.
At assessment authorities will find comprehensive information and practical guidelines to help them assess foreign professional qualifications.
Dirk Werner, director of the Vocational Education and Training research unit at the Cologne Institute for Economic Research (IW Köln), commented, “Beyond the BQ-Portal, there are no comparable German-language resources available on foreign vocational training systems and professional qualifications. As an intelligent system, the BQ-Portal makes an important contribution to continuously increasing know-how in the field. We are delighted to be able to support the authorities in charge of assessing and recognising foreign professional qualifications with an effective information and communication platform.” He stressed, however, “In view of the large and diverse number of foreign educational and further training programs, it will be essential for the portal’s users to contribute and share their knowledge, skills and experience with others. That is why we invite the experts involved in the assessment and evaluation of foreign professional qualifications to share their expertise and contribute to expanding the portal.”
At the heart of the BQ-Portal:a database expanded by users
To date, the BQ-Portal has published 76 country profiles with more than 1650 professional profiles. Along with the Cologne Institute of Economic Research, the staff of numerous professional chambers have contributed to building up this enormous source of expertise. Since the autumn of 2012, the Federal Institute for Vocational Education and Training (BIBB) has also contributed to the country and professional profiles.
“It is our aim to include all involved stakeholders. Each and every registered user can make a valuable contribution to developing the expertise contained in the portal. Only then can everyone benefit from the know-how of others”, Dirk Werner said.
About the portal
The BQ-Portal is a central information platform concerning foreign professional qualifications in Germany. At assessment authorities and companies can find plenty of information that will support them in assessing vocational and further training qualifications obtained abroad. The portal is aimed at enhancing transparency and fostering acceptance of foreign professional qualifications. As a result, it will make an important contribution to securing a skilled workforce in Germany. The development and expansion of the BQ-Portal is supported by the Federal Ministry of Economic Affairs and Energy.
BQ-Portal project office
c/o Cologne Institute for Economic Research
Konrad-Adenauer Ufer 21
50668 Cologne, Germany
Tel. +49 (0)221 4981 275
Email:
Option 2:text blocks for companies
BQ-Portal – the information portal for foreign professional qualifications
The BQ-Portal is a central information platform concerning foreign professional qualifications in Germany.At , assessment authorities and companies can find plenty of information that will support them in assessing foreign qualifications in vocational training and further training.
Even today, Germany is feeling the effects of demographic change, and this presents companies with significant challenges: “Germany is currently experiencing a shortage of123,600 qualified professionals in the STEM fields – science, technology, engineering and mathematics. As a result of falling population figures, this number is set to rise significantly in the coming years, especially for qualified professionals who have completed their vocational training”, said Dirk Werner, director of the Vocational Education and Training research unit at the Cologne Institute for Economic Research (IW Köln).
Against this backdrop, it is all the more important to make use of the potential that is available. “In Germany, around two million people who have obtained a vocational or further training qualification abroad do not work in the profession they have qualified for. This is partly due to the fact that there is very little reliable information about the content and quality of these professional qualifications”, Dirk Werner continued.
These foreign qualifications must be assessed and compared to equivalent German qualifications, so that all qualified professionals resident in Germany have the opportunity to work in a job they are qualified for. This is where the BQ-Portal ( comes in. The portal was created two years ago, just before the Recognition Act came into effect, and consolidatesall relevant information and expertise about foreign professional qualifications and vocational training systems in one platform. Staff in charge of assessing the equivalence of professional qualifications can use the BQ-Portal to compare foreign qualifications with their German counterparts.
“This is an important factor for the successful integration of foreign skilled professionals in the German labour market”, Dirk Werner stressed. After all, foreign qualifications can only be seen as equivalent and formally recognised if they have been subject to an assessment process.
About the portal
The BQ-Portal is a central information platform concerning foreign professional qualifications in Germany. At assessment authorities and companies can find plenty of information that will support them in assessing vocational and further training qualifications obtained abroad. The portal is aimed at enhancing transparency and fostering acceptance of foreign professional qualifications. As a result, it will make an important contribution to securing a skilled workforce in Germany. The development and expansion of the BQ-Portal is supported by the Federal Ministry of Economic Affairs and Energy.
BQ-Portal project office
c/o Cologne Institute for Economic Research
Konrad-Adenauer Ufer 21
50668 Cologne, Germany
Tel. +49 (0)221 4981 275
Email:
Option 3:brief press release for newsletters or websites of project participants and assessment authorities
[Institution] supports BQ-Portal – the information portal for foreign professional qualifications
[optional: With its longstanding expertise in xyz], [Institution] is contributing to the BQ-Portal, a platform supported by the Federal Ministry of Economic Affairs and Energy. The BQ-Portal is a central information platform concerning foreign professional qualifications in Germany. Companies and assessment authorities can use the portal to find plenty of information that will support them in assessing and evaluating foreign qualifications in vocational training and further training. The portal is aimed and enhancing transparency and fostering acceptance of foreign professional qualifications. As a result, it will make an important contribution to securing a skilled workforce in Germany. Until 2018, the portal will be expanded in close cooperation with other practitioners and experts in assessment matters.
Option 4:brief press release for newsletters and websites (general)
The BQ-Portal:helping you assess and evaluate foreign professional qualifications
The BQ-Portal is a central information platform concerning foreign professional qualifications in Germany. At assessment authorities and companies can find plenty of information that will support them in assessing foreign qualifications in vocational training and further training. The portal is aimed at enhancing transparency and fostering acceptance of foreign professional qualifications. As a result, it will make an important contribution to securing a skilled workforce in Germany. The development and expansion of the BQ-Portal is supported by the Federal Ministry of Economic Affairs and Energy.
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