Report from our former trainees

How is it like, the dual training system?

“BIHV – what’s that?”

“What do you want to do with it?”

“Still on a degree course?”

Or:

“You poor things!”

“Good for you!”

“Missing all the nice weather ...”

We Bremen trainees have often heard questions and remarks like these, or similar ones, especially when at the stroke of 5.00 p.m. we get up from our desks and wish people goodbye, saying “Now I’ve got to go to my degree class.” Particularly at the beginning this always drew from our colleagues the amazed response: “What, you’re taking a degree?” That’s right, we are. We decided on a practical degree course in addition to our training.

Normal professional training in Germany features a dual system, optimally linking studies at academic and operational level during a training period. And our preparation for the profession of shipping trader, which we are undergoing with other trainees, is composed of practical insights into the professional work involved, its structure and divisions, and tuition in cross-professional and general knowledge at a vocational college.

In addition to this we have availed ourselves of the facilities provided by Senator Lines to gain an additional qualification via the six-semester course offered by the Bremen Institute of Trade & Transport (BIHV). The Institute was founded in 2002 and sees its role as an initiator and supporter of collaboration between vocational colleges and companies undertaking training. The course is so structured and organised that it is the companies undertaking the training which have the main guiding influence on what is taught.