Training course updates for the month of August have been released

In a significant shift towards the future, the German vocational education and training (VET) system is undergoing a transformation, focusing on integrating digitalization, sustainability, and modern manufacturing techniques. This change, led by institutions like the Federal Institute for Vocational Education and Training (BIBB), is set to impact various professions, including office management, gemstone setting, floristry, photography, goldsmithing and silversmithing, chimney sweeping, and legal administrative specialists.

Digitalization

The VET system is actively embracing digital competencies and emerging technologies, such as artificial intelligence (AI), in apprenticeship training. For instance, in 2025, BIBB will highlight projects that incorporate AI, reflecting the recognition of AI as a crucial competence across trades and professions. This includes training on the use of AI tools, which is relevant for professions ranging from photography to office management, aligning with the broader EU framework on AI regulation and digital governance.

Sustainability

There is an increasing emphasis on embedding sustainability principles within vocational training. This encompasses environmentally conscious practices and resource-efficient manufacturing techniques relevant to crafts like goldsmithing and chimney sweeping. The focus lies on preparing apprentices to contribute to sustainable production and service delivery, consistent with European and national calls for sustainable development.

Modern Manufacturing Techniques

Alongside digital tools, apprenticeships are being modernized to reflect advanced manufacturing processes—such as precision work in gemstone setting or silversmithing—utilizing digital methods and automation where appropriate. Training is evolving to include digital design and production technologies, supporting quality and innovation.

Systemic Approach and Competence-Based Training

The German VET system reforms are built on a structured competence-based framework that maps skills directly to learning outcomes. This approach helps adapt traditional crafts and administrative roles to the changing technological and ecological landscape.

Regulatory Context

The integration also aligns with broader EU and national legal frameworks, such as the EU AI Act (effective August 2025) that governs the use of AI technologies, impacting how digital tools are taught and used in professional settings. Additionally, the digital transformation is framed within principles of inclusion, education, and skills development promoted at the European level.

Profession-Specific Changes

Office managers' training will focus on handling digital media and data, data security, data protection, and information gathering and verification.
The training regulations for seven professions, including goldsmith and silversmith, florists, photographers, and legal administrative specialists, have been updated by BIBB, effective from August 1, 2025.
The joint training program for goldsmith and silversmith will emphasize sustainability, digitalization, modern manufacturing techniques, and customer consultation.
The training of florists will place greater emphasis on business-related basic competencies, digitalization, and sustainability.
The training of chimney sweeps will include topics related to digital measurements and energy conservation due to the energy transition. Chimney sweeps' training will cover topics related to renewable energies, digital measurements, energy and resource conservation, and sustainability.
Future photographers will focus on digital image processing and customer-oriented project work.
Gemstone setters will focus more on customer consultation in the future, with new aspects including sustainability, digitization specific to the profession, and modern manufacturing techniques such as 3D printing.

The updated training regulations for various professions in Germany are set to better prepare the workforce for future challenges across diverse professions, ensuring both technical trades and administrative sectors are equipped with modern competencies.

The integration of digital competencies and emerging technologies, such as artificial intelligence (AI), is becoming a crucial part of apprenticeship training in the revamped German Vocational Education and Training (VET) system, spanning various professions like office management and photography.
Sustainability principles are being embedded within vocational training, resulting in environmentally conscious practices in crafts like goldsmithing and chimney sweeping, and reinforcing the commitment to sustainable development across trades.