Build Up Skills II – QUALITRAIN

The EU project ‘Qualitrain’ focussed on strengthening the vocational education and training of construction workers with regard to energy efficiency in construction and refurbishment projects. The intent of the project was to strengthen this. The implementation of measures from the national qualification plan from the predecessor project ‘Build Up Skills I – Qualergy’, which were categorised as particularly important, were on the agenda.

These include:

• The development of a training programme across all trades that includes the topics of ‘interfaces between the trades’ and ‘the house as a system’
• The development, testing and dissemination of a further training concept for the higher qualification of trainers (classroom training and online learning concept)
• Development of an HR development concept in the construction sector with special consideration for small and medium-sized companies
• Greater transparency of the market for further training by setting up a corresponding database and a design for further training counselling

Qualitrain was a continuation of its predecessor project: ‘Build Up Skills I – Qualergy’. In that project, the project partners analysed whether the number and qualifications of those working in construction are sufficient to achieve the energy efficiency targets in the building sector for 2020. The result was that the number of people in the skilled trades needed to be increased, and their qualifications required improvement. Which is why a national qualification plan was drawn up and served as the basis for Qualitrain.

There were six partners that were part of the Qualitrain consortium. The German Confederation of Skilled Crafts (ZDH) headed the consortium running the project alongside dena, the Research Institute for Vocational Education and Training in the Crafts Sector at the University of Cologne (FBH), the Heinz Piest Institute for the Skilled Crafts at the Leibniz University Hanover (HPI), the Federal Institute for Vocational Education and Training (BIBB), the Central Agency for Continuing Vocational Education and Training in the Skilled Crafts (ZWH) and Zentralverband deutsches Baugewerbe e.V. (ZdB). Their work was supported by the national platform, an initiative of 56 organisations, including chambers of the skilled trades, ministries and chambers of architects.

The project ran from 1 November 2013 until 30 June 2016.

www.bauinitiative.de