The institute is one of Germany's leading providers of education and personnel development for the construction sector, helping meet the industry's demand for skilled workers by supporting the recruitment of participants, including international candidates, and providing training and workforce development for construction companies.
BiW offers a comprehensive range of career orientation, vocational education, and professional development programs for trainees, specialists, and managers, including prospective skilled migrant workers from various countries.
The center has five modern training workshops and around 20 classrooms, accommodating up to 750 participants per day. It also serves as one of the main examination centers for vocational education under the German Chamber of Commerce, Industry, and Crafts.
Its state-of-the-art workshops and digital learning tools enable practice-oriented training that is aligned with current industry requirements.
When ANTARA visited the training center during a themed trip on "Skilled Labor Migration" in early July, Head of the Training Center Karl Heinz Pfünder said Germany's construction industry currently offers opportunities for anyone interested in working in the sector.
"The construction industry in Germany truly offers opportunities for anyone who wants to work here," he said.
To date, BiW has provided training to around 1.5 million workers in Germany's construction industry. Of that number, about 20 percent, or approximately 300,000 people, are migrant workers from various countries.
The institute operates 11 training centers across the states of Hesse and Thuringia. Each year, it graduates around 5,000 participants and collaborates with approximately 3,000 companies.
Annually, around 50,000 people take part in qualification training at BiW across the two German states. Among them are approximately 1,500 participants from 36 countries.
The competencies taught at BiW extend beyond construction equipment and heavy machinery to include building technology and high-voltage systems engineering.
In this field, BiW has established international cooperation with Vietnam to train and prepare workers. Since 1999, the institute has also implemented various international projects with partners in 36 countries.
Building international careers
Considering Germany's dual vocational training system, in which companies work closely with training centers to develop skilled workers, BiW provides high-quality practical training through a one-stop international service.
The service connects construction companies with qualified workers by delivering industry-oriented practical training for participants seeking careers in Germany's construction sector.
"So, we provide services for the construction industry as well as for people who want to build careers in the construction sector," Karl said.
To achieve this, BiW first conducts a workforce needs assessment to identify the types of skills and occupations required by its partner companies.
"One year before applicants arrive from abroad, we conduct a needs assessment. We determine what each company needs, what skills are required, and what type of work the applicants will perform," he said.
Working together with its international partners, BiW carries out a selection process for prospective trainees and skilled migrant workers who will later be recruited by partner companies in Germany, allowing successful applicants to undergo training at the institute.
Prospective trainees who wish to participate in the recruitment and training program must begin learning German in their home countries until they obtain a B1-level language certificate and fulfill all other required qualifications.
After meeting the language requirements and completing the necessary qualifications, BiW consults with partner companies to determine suitable candidates before conducting online interviews.
Once both the company and the selected applicant agree on an employment contract and training arrangement, the visa application process begins in cooperation with the German Federal Foreign Office.
Applicants are also required to complete additional administrative requirements, including obtaining health insurance, opening a bank account, securing a mobile phone number, and completing other necessary procedures.
After completing the employment agreement and visa process, participants travel to Germany, where they receive company-provided accommodation before beginning their training and employment with the recruiting company.
Hau Lam, a trainee from Vietnam who is now in his second year, is undergoing training at BiW to become a carpenter.
He admitted that he had never imagined going through such a process and first learned about the program online. After discussing the opportunity with his parents, he decided to pursue vocational training and employment in Germany.
"My parents told me this was a valuable opportunity to pursue vocational education and training in Germany," he said.
One of the biggest challenges of studying and working in Germany, Lam noted, is mastering the German language. He said BiW has provided extensive support, beginning with free German language classes in Vietnam and continuing with integration assistance and other forms of support throughout the training period.
Like Lam, Duc Nam Nguyen from Vietnam, along with Tsiry Landrimampianina and Haja Thrimoson from Madagascar, who are training as road builders, said they have received extensive support from BiW throughout the entire process, from recruitment and training to becoming skilled workers in their respective professions.
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Editor: Primayanti
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