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Successful Exchange: BCIT Partners with German Vocational School
Successful Exchange: BCIT Partners with German Vocational School, © Adriana Sosa
In July 2023, the British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT) hosted an exchange program, welcoming six students from the Staatliche Berufsschule Bad Aibling (Bad Aibling State Vocational School, BSAIB) in Germany for a two-week stint in their machinist program. BSAIB is a state vocational school in Bavaria training mechanic and machinist students under the dual apprenticeship system that combines apprenticeship with vocational education and connects students with industry and employers.
The partnership was initiated after BSAIB contacted BCIT International in 2022 to collaborate and provide students exposure to different applied schools. A year later, a MoU was signed on March 2, 2023, solidifying the unique alliance between BCIT International, the BCIT Machinist Group, and BSAIB. The partnership between BSAIB and BCIT, which is the first of its kind, was featured in local and national print and TV media in Germany.
During their time at BCIT, the German students worked alongside BCIT's CNC Machinist Technician students. They collaborated in mixed grous, designing and building toy trucks that were finally judged on style and speed. The exchange offered a valuable cross-cultural learning experience, fostering an appreciation for diverse manufacturing strategies.
BSAIB instructors also visited BCIT, touring the state-of-the-art CNC and manual machining facilities.
One highlight of the visit was a meeting with Marc Eichhorn, Consul General of the Federal Republic of Germany in Vancouver. He emphasized the importance of these international partnerships in raising awareness of the importance of apprenticeships in the trades and applied education in general. The visiting students also received a certificate of completion at the end of their trip.
Looking ahead, BCIT eagerly anticipates sending their students and faculty to BSAIB in 2024.