Klima- und Ressourcenschutz im Bausektor
Climate and resource protection in the construction sector

Eighteen experts and managers of various agencies, companies and organizations of Mongolia visited the competence center for sustainable building Cottbus on 20 September under the above mentioned aspect.
The twelve-day study visit was funded by the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and awarded by the InWEnt gGmbH to a consortium led by IDEA Consultants. The consortium is part of the BFW e. V. Participants were offered a comprehensive program in Berlin and Brandenburg.

During the multi-day stay in the Lausitz also a meeting toke place with trainees from Central Asia who completed a two-week seminar on energy-efficient construction in the competence centre.
For visitors from Mongolia the visit to this school of Vocational Advancement Service was of particular interest, because here they could see the practical vocational training for professionals in the construction industry. The staff from the training center presented their educational products and the dual vocational training of the construction industry committed and competent.

In particular, the representatives of business associations and educational institutions were impressed and expressed a desire for further cooperation. All Mongolian guests are proven leaders with a rich international experience.
The evening ended with a joint social gathering.

On 09/21/2010, the Mongolian group visited the college in Cottbus. Here too, the director of the college highlighted the close cooperation with the competence center.

Besuch vom Lehrzentrum für Weiterbildung im Bauwesen aus Gomel (Belarus)
Visitors from learning center for continuing education in civil engineering from Gomel (Belarus)

Three experts and executives from the partner institution in Gomel accompanied by an interpreter Galina Kokotowa visited selected schools of the Vocational Advancement Service in order to learn about aspects of design and equipment of training workshops and the professional training of specialists in construction companies.
The training center is a reliable partner of the Vocational Training work since June 2009. Range of contacts and activities combine both educational institutions.
The four Belarusian colleagues visited the training center Frankfurt (Oder), the Competence Centre for Sustainable Construction Cottbus and the VTC Brandenburg an der Havel-Friesack.
The VTC Frankfurt (Oder) with its training workshops for road construction, masonry, wood construction, fitting out, and for the painting and painter-craft were shown to the guests. In additon to the visit of the work shops in the VTC Cottbus there were explanations about qualification offers in energy efficient construction und further education seminars for foreign participants. The visit to Cottbus was taken to prepare a next workshop in Minsk in October and to make final arrangements. Then eachers from Cottbus will occur in front of Belarusian participants and participate as lecturers in training in the teaching center in Gomel.
The visit in the VTC Brandenburg an der Havel-Friesack was focused on the further education in the field of construction machine operators. The core competences there are especially road construction, civil engineering and fountain construction, as well as the training to a roads warder.

Belorussische Architekten und Ingenieure auf Studienreise
Belarusian architects and engineers on a study trip

At the invitation of Vocational Advancement Service end of September 2010  thirty managers, architects and engineers from Byelorussia informed on specific questions of the construction industry in Germany.
The aim of the one-week study period was the application of EU standards in the design of buildings and the organization of work in architecture and planning offices, and cooperation with clients, planners and construction companies.
The interesting study tour was organized by the Institute NIPTIS of the Ministry of Architecture and Construction of the Republic of Belarus.
On 28 September Axel Wunschel, CEO of the Building Industry Association Berlin-Brandenburg and the executive vice chairman of the Vocational Advancement Service, and Mr. Walter Jahn, head of foreign service of Vocational Advancement Service, received the guests in the office in Potsdam and informed about the tasks of the association representing the interests of the regional construction industry, concrete situation of the construction industry in the region Berlin-Brandenburg and aspects of vocational education and training.
During the stay there were the various working meetings, visits and seminars. Successful participation in this study tour was documented by certificates.

Trainingskurs für Multiplikatoren aus Zentralasien
Training course for multipliers from Central Asia

From 09/13/2010 to 09/24/2010, 13 specialist teachers and other construction workers from Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan were made sensitive in a training course, which had the theme “insulation of buildings, to the climate and resource protection”.
The participants shall work as multipliers after returning to their countries and pass on the new technologies in this field to their colleagues.
This study visit was funded under the project "Vocational Education as a contribution to climate protection and resource conservation in Central Asia and Mongolia" by InWent gGmbH and in cooperation with IDEA-Consultants and the Competence Centre Cottbus.

The focus was on teaching knowledge and skills required for the professional, energy-efficient construction and sustainable, professional and energy-efficient renovation of wall and roof structures.
This two-week training course on insulation was divided into the two areas of roof insulation in the first week and insulation of walls in the second week. At the beginning of both issues were fundamental building physical considerations.
Particularly significant for the practical implementation in their own country were the practical exercises. The participants realized e.g. models to the production of air-tightness of connections, or layers have been carried out experiments on water absorption and drying behavior of building materials. The participants showed great interest in the quality control measures such as checking the air tightness of the building envelope by a Blower - Door Measurement in our BEM (Building physics experiment and measuring buildings).

On 6th Day the Tajik and Kyrgyz multipliers met a Mongolian group exclusively composed of participants who came from the decision-making levels of their country. In a large round table discussion the two groups were able to exchange the experience already gained. In discussions with the Mongolian guests gathered multipliers suggestions to the energy efficient building in their own country to pave the way to. They discussed always the question of the bases and conditions which must be created in order to ensure good professional skills of the workforce.
In thermal insulation of walls, the theme of the second week, the participants were explained possibilities for thermal insulation of walls and the advantages and disadvantages of different options. Mr. Dipl.-Ing. H. Rieck demonstrated very vivid and memorable, how an infrared thermal camera and the opportunities of the energy assessment of existing structures.
Finally, the participants practiced independently at a wall of a prototype manufacturing a thermal insulation system. All stages of the pretreatment of the substrate, the adhesion of the insulation, set of rails, arming up to the final coat could be practiced by all participants. This possibility, under the guidance of professionals to try and take one or the other tip to take home, was used by all with great commitment.
The common course evaluation with the participants and the evaluation of the evaluation forms clearly show the urgency and the need for training of personnel on this controversial topic. Since the group was composed of very homogeneous, the participants came from various fields of construction such as construction, planning or professional schools, the knowledge can thus be carried over into different levels.

Baugeräteführer fit für den deutschen und europäischen Arbeitsmarkt
Building construction machine operator fit for the German and European labour market

In July / August 32 trainees completed a final examination in front of the board of assessment of the Chamber of Industry and Commerce Potsdam as building construction machine operator.
Including 13 young people were trained by the cooperative model in the OSC and Friesack ÜAZ Brandenburg / H. Friesack. The cooperative model is a special full-time school course of study to acquire a vocational qualification under the Vocational Education Act (Vocational Training Act) or the Crafts Code (HwO). It is funded through the special training programs.
18 trainees deepened and strengthened as part of company training in multi-week courses in the training company acquired knowledge and skills.
1 trainee has reached his education by supporting of the integration and training center Havelland.
Through the collaboration of teachers and trainers of the OSC Friesack in VTC Brandenburg an der Havel-Friesack 90% of the trainees were taken to the final professional examination.
After completing the examination successfully they had got additionally

the "Permission to drive trucks"
the "Approved excavator and loader driver"
the "Certified crane operators.

The latter two are important training modules for taking up jobs in the European labour market and a requirement of the German Construction Industry Association and the Professional Association of the construction industry for use on German construction sites.
Thus, these young people have the tools to start to working life. Now it is up to them to implement such knowledge and skills and consolidate by gaining practical experience on construction sites in the world and to expand them.