SWITCH 2.0

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SWITCH Bus Aachen.jpg

SWITCH 2.0 is a municipal project in Aachen , the drop-outs to companies in the Aachen region for the purpose of dual vocational training imparted. The project is based in the city administration of Aachen in the business, science and Europe department.

history

SWITCH 2.0 was initiated by the city of Aachen in 2011 and developed together with regional partners with the aim of transferring dropouts from the MINT subjects to a shortened vocational training in the IT industry. In the meantime, through close cooperation with the Aachen Chamber of Commerce and Industry , the project has developed into a full-service agency that supports drop-outs from all departments in finding a suitable training position. Since 2015, the project has been funded from third-party funds from the Federal Ministry of Education and Research and the European Social Fund as part of the nationwide “ Jobstarter plus ” program and is in the second funding phase in 2019, which will run until 2021.

background

Aachen is a science and technology city. The large universities of the Rheinisch-Westfälische Technische Hochschule and Fachhochschule Aachen with their technical orientation on the one hand and many innovative small and medium-sized companies on the other hand shape the economic structure. Despite these positive location factors, the local companies, as in other cities, complain about an increasing shortage of skilled workers .

Of the approximately 11,000 students who start at Aachen universities each year, around a third drop out of their studies without a degree. Keeping this potential in terms of knowledge and manpower at the Aachen location and conveying it to local or regional companies in vocational training was the main motivation of the Aachen economic development agency to launch the SWITCH 2.0 project.

project goal

The main aim of the project is to support small and medium-sized companies based in the Aachen region in recruiting skilled workers. The focus is on recruiting students who are willing to drop out for a shortened, dual vocational training course.

Project marketing

SWITCH 2.0 uses various marketing measures to draw attention to its offer. There are regular larger information events under the title “Doubts about studying”. These are managed by the Central Student Advisory Service of RWTH Aachen University, in cooperation with various advice centers inside and outside the university. At the Aachen University of Applied Sciences, in cooperation with the AStA of the Aachen University of Applied Sciences, there are also information events on the subject of dropping out as well as individual advice. Since 2019, the SWITCH 2.0 project has been part of the Zweifel network at the FH Aachen University of Applied Sciences. SWITCH 2.0 is drawn to attention via social media channels such as Facebook and Instagram, but also via information stands at student events, flyers, poster campaigns or radio advertising and much more.

Application process

If interested students contact SWITCH 2.0, they will be given extensive advice on finding the right training occupation. A standardized aptitude test is then carried out to determine previous knowledge and the scope of a possible shortening of the training. Study achievements are taken into account. A short profile is created and sent to the appropriate company. This part of the application process is carried out by the solution agency established by the Aachen Chamber of Industry and Commerce for this purpose.

Interested companies contact the applicants directly to request detailed application documents or to invite them directly for an interview. If a training contract is concluded, the future trainees are registered for the relevant vocational school class. For the apprenticeship “ IT specialist for application development” there is a special 18-month SWITCH class at the vocational college for economics and administration in Aachen, in which the school-based learning material is conveyed in compressed form and which is tailored to the shortened, company-based training.

Companies

Around 300 companies in the Aachen region make use of the services offered by SWITCH 2.0. For the companies, the cooperation makes it easier for them to recruit skilled workers. The marketing measures to address the target group dropouts and part of the selection process are taken over by SWITCH 2.0, including a. the acquisition of dropouts, the review of the application documents and the training-specific placement tests.

Awards

2011: NRW.BANK Prize "Innovative Municipality"

The city of Aachen was awarded the NRW.BANK prize for its SWITCH 2.0 project in the “Establish and Grow” category by the Ministry of the Interior of North Rhine-Westphalia and NRW.BANK for the innovative approach to placing dropouts in dual vocational training “Innovative Municipality 2011” awarded.

2012: Hermann Schmidt Prize

In the opinion of the jury, SWITCH 2.0 starts at an important educational policy interface, as the project gives university dropouts a second chance to gain a foothold in a career and obtain a qualified professional qualification. SWITCH 2.0 is pursuing a nationwide unique approach and received the Hermann Schmidt Special Prize for innovative vocational training.

2014: Innovative network

At the Innovation Day of the Federal Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs in Berlin, SWITCH 2.0 was named "Innovative Network 2014", which as a regional network supports companies in securing skilled workers.

2015: Training Ass

The SWITCH 2.0 project in Aachen received the special award “Apprenticeship Ace 2015” for its outstanding performance in the placement of dropouts in dual training. With this award, the Wirtschaftsjunioren Deutschland , the Juniors des Handwerks and the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy recognized the commitment of companies and initiatives that pay special attention to the quality and quantity of training activities.

Web links

Bibliography

  1. ↑ The switch 2.0 project. Retrieved June 13, 2019 .
  2. ↑ studienabbrecher.com | Regional offices. Retrieved June 13, 2019 . , on aachen.de
  3. ↑ Initiatives in North Rhine-Westphalia - Specialist office for dropouts. Retrieved June 13, 2019 .
  4. ^ Department of Economy, Science and Europe - Service portal of the city of Aachen. Retrieved June 13, 2019 .
  5. ↑ SWITCH: The career path for dropouts. Retrieved June 13, 2019 (German).
  6. ↑ BMBF Internet editors: New opportunities for dropouts - BMBF. Retrieved June 13, 2019 .
  7. ↑ Editors: BMBF LS5 Internet Editor: project map - BMBF Jobstarter. Retrieved June 13, 2019 .
  8. ↑ Study: Almost one in three drops out of their studies . ISSN  0174-4909 ( faz.net [accessed June 13, 2019]).
  9. ↑ Doubt about your studies - Find your way - RWTH Aachen University. Retrieved June 13, 2019 .
  10. ↑ Doubt about studies? - RWTH Aachen University. Retrieved June 13, 2019 .
  11. ↑ Coordination Office for Doubts about Studies. Retrieved June 13, 2019 (German).
  12. ↑ Switch 2.0 training for dropouts. Retrieved June 13, 2019 .
  13. ↑ switch 2.0 dropouts (@ switch_2.0) • Instagram photos and videos. Retrieved June 13, 2019 .
  14. ↑ Agency for solutions: SWITCH project: public area. Retrieved June 13, 2019 .
  15. ^ IT professions - BWV Aachen. Retrieved June 13, 2019 .
  16. ↑ Offer for companies. Retrieved June 13, 2019 . , on aachen.de
  17. ↑ Awards. Retrieved June 13, 2019 . , on aachen.de
  18. ↑ Andreas Pieper: Hermann Schmidt Prize 2012: “Attractiveness of dual vocational training for high-performing young people” - four projects awarded for outstanding achievements. Retrieved June 13, 2019 .
  19. ↑ BMAS - further expand the security of skilled workers. Retrieved June 13, 2019 .
  20. ↑ Wirtschaftsjuroren Germany: Laudationes training ace 2015 training initiatives special price 2. Accessed on June 13, 2019 .