No degree without a connection - transition from school to work in NRW (KAoA)

What is "Kein Abschluss ohne Anschluss" all about?

"Kein Abschluss ohne Anschluss - Übergang Schule-Beruf in NRW" is the name of the initiative in North Rhine-Westphalia. A frequently used abbreviation is "KAoA". All pupils from year eight onwards take part.

Within the scope of this National initiative the city of Bochum wants to offer all young people binding and tailor-made connections and prospects in the transition from school to work. Together with regional partners, existing structures are examined and new offers are designed where necessary. All efforts should also help young people to find out what their strengths, aptitudes and interests are. Only then can a decision be made as to which career path is the right one. For this reason, early advice and support in career guidance is provided by teachers, parents/guardians and specialist staff - at different points and at different times.

Professional orientation

For all pupils at secondary level I systematic vocational orientation begins in the eighth grade. Individual strengths, inclinations and interests are gradually identified - regardless of gender. The class teacher at the school organizes the career guidance process.

For young people with (severe) disabilities, entering the world of work is often particularly challenging. If additional support is required for career orientation, this information sheet provides [KAoA_STAR_Infoblatt_Bochum_Herne.pdf] an initial overview of the funding priorities:

• Mental development (GG),

• Hearing and communication (HK),

• Physical and motor development (KME),

• Vision (SE) and

• Language (SQ).

This only applies to the special needs areas of learning (LE) and emotional and social development (ESE), when there is also an established degree of disability of at least 50.

Further information on the "STAR - Schule trifft Arbeitswelt" program can be found on the website of the Regional Association of Westphalia-Lippe.

Designing transitions

"Kein Abschluss ohne Anschluss" aims to support young people in finding their individual transition into a profession in a targeted manner. The aim is to avoid unnecessary loops. Together with the stakeholders in Bochum, the municipal coordination office has created a digital pinboard: "Wege in den Beruf Bochum".

The transitions are taken into consideration for:

• young people interested in training

• young people who want to obtain a higher-level school-leaving qualification

• Pupils who want to take up a course of study

• young people with additional needs. They receive offers from the employment agency, the job center and the youth welfare office to prepare them for a career.

The state of NRW offers a successful example on the portal career.nrw with the four main categories:

• Training with the state

• Studying with the state

• Career after graduation

• Jobmarket.NRW

Dual education

Vocational training in the dual system means that training takes place alternately in the company and at vocational school.

Under certain conditions, it is possible to obtain a higher-level school-leaving qualification by completing vocational training. Dual vocational training also offers excellent opportunities for further training or promotion later on.

Unfortunately, not all pupils and their parents are aware of these diverse opportunities. For this reason, the partners in Bochum are also developing joint strategies to raise awareness of the opportunities offered by dual vocational training. Young people from all types of schools should have at least taken a look at the area of "dual training". The aim is, of course, to fill training positions where a shortage of skilled workers is expected.

Further information can be found here:

• Increasing the attractiveness of dual vocational training

• Promote training

Municipal coordination as a joint process

The state initiative is implemented by the municipalities. They therefore play an important role and bundle the municipal coordination centers the activities on site. They are funded by the state and the European Social Fund.

The municipal coordination office should

• Helping to shape transitions from school to the world of work sustainably and systematically,

• continuously develop these transitions,

• Avoid duplicate structures and

• organize the necessary coordination processes.

Together, all relevant stakeholders develop a common understanding of how the individual responsibilities interact. To this end, the roles of the individual institutions are clarified and agreements are reached. Interfaces are then optimized and further development processes are initiated. All those involved retain their institutional legal competencies and responsibilities.

The KAoA steering group provides strategic support for the state initiative KAoA for Bochum. Its members are

• the education authority for the city of Bochum

• the Arnsberg district government for the upper school supervisory authority

• the Bochum Employment Agency and the Jobcenter Bochum

• the Ruhr District Craftsmen's Association

• the Central Ruhr Area Chamber of Industry and Commerce

• the Employers' associations Ruhr/Westphalia

• the German Trade Union Federation Ruhr-Mark Region

• the Bochum university network "UniverCity" and

• the City of Bochum with school administration officethe Municipal Integration Center and the Youth Welfare Office

This is based on the agreements of the Training consensus NRW and the Instrument catalog of the state of NRW

We also provide support in the process of municipal coordination:

• the Regional Agency Central Ruhr Area

• the Specialist integration service for Bochum and Herne (KAoA-STAR)

• the Regional Association of Westphalia-Lippe (KAoA-STAR)

as well as many other partners in the three areas:

1. Professional orientation

2. Designing transitions

3. Making dual training opportunities more transparent

Further links on the topic:

• General information on the state initiative "Kein Abschluss ohne Anschluss - Übergang Schule-Beruf in NRW" on the homepage of the Ministry of Labor, Health and Social Affairs of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia.

• "Compilation of instruments and offers" for the initiative in the free download via the brochure service.

• Details on the individual elements of KAoA can be found on the Homepage of the Ministry of Schools and Education of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia.

• Professional support for all municipal coordination centers by the Company for innovative employment promotion in Bottrop.

• Digital pinboard TaskCards at "KAoA Bochum" with current information on the state initiative "No degree without a connection - transition from school to work in NRW".