1. Landesarbeitsgemeinschaft für politisch-kulturelle Bildung in Brandenburg e. V.
Two examples of current validation practices to establish informal and non-formal acquired competences of migrants and refugees in Germany 

2. Table of contents
Vocational training center (Chamber of Crafts Potsdam) – “vocational orientation and skill assessment for refugees”
IQ Network Brandenburg – “competence assessment”
Sources

3. Chamber of Crafts Potsdam* *
*Insight into the vocational training center

4. Chamber of Crafts Potsdam
Curricula:
Costs:
Insight into six vocational areas:
2.637,60 €/ Course
Metalworking
Duration 6 Weeks
Electrical engineering
Supported by the employment agency
Welding
Plumbing, heating and air conditioning
Language skills:
Not necessarily needed
Woodworking
Interpreter will be available
Painting
Focus on a first rough competency assessment in technical, methodological and social dimensions

5. Chamber of Crafts Potsdam
Assesment:
For each participant, the training supervisor creates a competency profile
Each participant can be individually assessed and a recommendation can be issued
Six weeks of assessment in workshops (in which they run through six areas
provided) by the training supervisor followed by an assessment in written form to
the Job Centre

6. Chamber of Crafts Potsdam
The approval of the assessment of the refugees is based on the reputation of
the Chamber of Crafts and their training supervisors.
No certificate
Training supervisors can connect refugees with companies:
over 50%, rest by Job Center; e.g. Refugee with no knowledge of the German
language was connected via bilateral agreement to a company in where he works
as a welder now
Good chances of a further stay in Germany because of the possible dual vocational
education

7. Assessment form with:
Course name
Occupational area
Course nr.
Name of the training supervisor
Course length
Specific assessment points
Previous acknowledges of the participant

8. e.g. Metalworking

10. Chamber of Crafts Potsdam
The practical activities cover six areas:
Metalworking (Processing of pipes, sheets and profiles; Compliance with fit and shape accuracy; Handling of different measuring techniques)
Electrical engineering (Construction of smaller circuits; Selection and cutting of the necessary materials; Measuring electrical quantities)
Welding (Learn about the different welding processes and welding machines; Attach the staples to steel sheets and place the first weld seams)

11. Chamber of Crafts Potsdam
Plumbing, heating and air conditioning (Machining and forming of different pipe materials; Manufacture of pipe joints and the handling of different materials; Manufacture of internal and external threads)
Woodworking (Working with typical carpentry tools and machines; Exercises in the tapping and grooving of wood materials; Manufacture of wood products)
Painting (Learn about color, shape and design; Designing color schemes on paper and wooden boards; Learning the different techniques)

12. Chamber of Crafts Potsdam
Problems:
Problems of motivation, volatile residence, other restrictions of the refugees
Acquisition of new refugee trainees:
Dual education system in Germany ≠ instant employment
Vocational orientation aims to bring refugees into a apprentice position; Refugees
want to instantly start working in a full-time job
Assessment only in craftsman's trade

13. IQ Network Brandenburg

14. IQ Network Brandenburg
Sub-project of the International Chamber of Commerce ICC
Curricula:
Initial consulting, - COC - Competence-oriented consulting
Competency assessment, interview, IT test, if necessary in workshops  
Counseling on career prospects on possible qualifications and trainings for employability    
Coaching and assistance with entry into work / training / qualification
Assessment based on German training regulations
Language skills:
German A1 – A2 ; B1 – B2
No interpreter available

15. IQ Network Brandenburg
Costs:
Government founded (Federal Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs, Federal Ministry of Education and Research, Federal agency for work)
Target group/aims:
Migrants and refugees with non-formal qualifications
Aims to capture pre-acquired competences
The participants should be able to take the next steps towards a qualified employment
The project provides a practical trial of competences acquired in workshops / factories
Intends to involve chambers and companies in their implementation

16. IQ Network Brandenburg
Assessment:
Module 1: Competence-oriented counseling / skills development for migrants:
Strengthen the self-confidence of the participating persons and uncover their potential
Module 2: Job-specific competence assessment – theoretically;
Module 3: Job-specific competence assessment – practically:
Systematic recording and documentation of skills and informal competences as well as their evaluation, verification and certification
Module 4: Consulting and Coaching:
Increasing the employability of the participating persons

17. IQ Network Brandenburg
Practical example for occupational competence assessment for the profession "Painter”
Module 1: Competence-oriented consulting
Competence for Migrants, competence matrix, Definition of the reference profession
Duration: 1 day
Module 3: 5-day practical Skills assessment
Job-related Competence assessment in adopting the training in the dual education profession "Painter”
Duration: 5 days
Module 4: Advice and Coaching
Prospects on the basis of the qualification recommendation of the educational provider
Duration: 0.5 days

18. Competence matrix:
Competence profile visually
refurbished
Self-assessment
External assessment
Needed competencies
Available competencies

19. Sense of responsibility Stress management Communication skills
Self-assessment | External assessment
Competence profile:
1=low; 5=high
Sense of responsibility
Stress management
Communication skills
Team skills
Intercultural acting
Flexibility and mobility
Management skills
Pedagogical skills
Creative skills

26. IQ Network Brandenburg
Indices:
Problems:
Competence assessment of refugees
Acquisition of new attendees
2016: 60
2017: 180 (forecast)
Aptitude of the attendees (e.g. Language skills)
Job-related assessment:
2016: 30
Obligation of the process
2017: 90 (forecast)
Cooperation structures
Assistance/Coaching
2016: 15
2017: 60 (forecast)

27. Sources Vocational orientation and skill assessment for refugees:
URL: (last accessed: )
Competence assessment:
URL: (last accessed: )
International Chamber of Commerce – main project site:
URL: (last accessed: )