Higher and vocational education in focus of Kazakhstan and Germany

The event was attended by representatives of relevant ministries, leading educational and scientific organizations of Germany, as well as experts in the field of dual and vocational education.

In his welcoming speech, Ambassador Nurlan Onzhanov stressed that 2025 was declared the “Year of Working Professions” by President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev in order to transform technical and vocational education in Kazakhstan. In this context, he spoke about the dynamic development of Kazakh-German cooperation in the field of education and the importance of expanding cooperation in the field of dual education and specialist training.

The President of the Kazakh-German University (DKU), Professor Dr. Wolrad Rommel, also addressed the participants, noting the importance of academic partnership between the two countries.

Peter Pfaffe, a representative of "iMove: Training - Made in Germany of the Federal Institute for Vocational Education (BIBB)" program spoke about current trends and opportunities for cooperation in the field of dual education.

The key element of the round table was a panel discussion on “Dual and vocational education,” during which experts exchanged views on the prospects for the development of the vocational training system.

Thus, Tobias Bolle, Head of International Professional Education Department at the German Chamber of Industry and Commerce (DIHK), stressed that their organization supports foreign chambers of commerce and industry and delegations in implementing dual education, building expertise in this area, developing educational programs and creating sustainable initiatives. He noted the importance of spreading the German dual education model, which allows both companies and young professionals in many countries to take advantage of high standards of professional training.

Thomas Helm, CEO of Eurasian Management Solutions GmbH, presented the results of his research on a detailed analysis of the dual education system in Kazakhstan, highlighting its strengths and weaknesses, as well as suggesting ways to improve them.

Frank Belkner, Head of the ERFURT Educational Center, also shared a successful example of cooperation between his educational center and Kazakhstani institutions, demonstrating the positive experience of integrating German educational standards.

In turn, Christopher Dürr, Head of the Policy Department at Knauf Gips, spoke about the activities of the Training Center in Kazakhstan, which operates with the support of the German company and makes a significant contribution to the development of vocational education in Kazakhstan.

The event concluded with a Q&A session, during which participants discussed promising areas of cooperation and possible joint projects in the field of higher and vocational education.

The round table confirmed the high interest of both sides in the development of educational and scientific partnership and became an important platform for the exchange of experience, establishing new contacts and determining further steps of interaction.

Earlier, it was reported that Deputy Prime Minister – Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan Murat Nurtleu and Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany to Kazakhstan Monica Iwersen met in Astana. The sides discussed the state and prospects of the bilateral cooperation in political, trade and economic, cultural and humanitarian spheres.