The “Berufliche Schulen Biedenkopf” (Technical College of Biedenkopf) have emerged from a typical district vocational school providing secondary and upper secondary vocational education for all students of a region.
Together with our local economy as well as further companies sending their apprentices to Biedenkopf, the school board and neighboring vocational and general education schools, we have developed a profile with a focus in the areas of metal-, electrical-, plastics- and commercial-professions in our sector of vocational education and in the dual training system.
Of the approximately 1000 students in our sector of vocational education and in the dual training system, about 300 are trained in classes recruiting their students district-, state- and nationwide. These classes are essential to the profile of our college and the region.
Biedenkopf and its surroundings have been transformed from a former iron foundry site into a strong center of technical modeling, mold making, plastics processing and specialty mechanical engineering. The number of apprentices in technical model construction and also in technical product design per area and per employee are particularly high here. Therefore, the installation of state and nationwide classes in Biedenkopf is logical consequence. In addition, Biedenkopf provides sufficient accommodation for the students in private quarters and in the neighboring youth hostel during their times of block schooling and as well as good training opportunities at the location (see THM – University of Applied Sciences).
We regard vocational education and the dual training system as the core business of vocational schools supplemented by offers in full-time vocational courses provided entirely by the school. Some of these courses provide access to post-secondary educational in Universities and Universities of Applied Sciences as well as granting access to educational programs without vocational education and in the dual training system like profession in the field of health care and social work. For those approx. 400 students in full-time classes, our offer ranges from educational programs for vocational preparation, two-year vocational school to higher vocational schools.
Offering supplementing training courses to skilled workers wishing to further their education is a field that we plan to advance in the future.
In 2011, we started our half-year vocational orientation courses for all students of the former district of Biedenkopf attending “Hauptschule”. During the vocational orientation courses they get to know two fields of vocational training and its associated occupations. Every Friday they are active in our workshops and labs. This procedure is embedded in an overall concept with assessment of competence, information, targeted choice of internships etc. and is coordinated with all key players of vocational orientation in the region.