The portal is continuously expanded in cooperation with the assessment authorities in charge of the recognition process. From 2011 to 2015 they developed along with the cooperating partners IW, IFOK and ]init[ the content and technology of the BQ-Portal and contributed their knowledge and expertise regarding foreign professional qualifications. In addition, they communicate their technical requirements and support the user-friendly design of the BQ-Portal. Since 2016 the assessment authorities are working together with IW and ]init[ to generate new contents.
In 2011, the former Federal Ministry of Economic Affairs and Technology (BMWi) commissioned the cooperating partners with the development and implementation of the BQ-Portal. The portal can only succeed, however, with the support of the assessment authorities. At the beginning, the Federal Institute for Vocational Education and Training (BIBB) also supported the portal.
The IW competence centre supports the assessment authorities in that it finds, translates and prepares information about foreign vocational training systems and qualifications. Through seminars and one-to-one discussions, it provides answers to questions, gives guidance and tips for research, and helps users who want to practice how to process cases in the BQ-Portal. ]init[ AG implements the portal from a technical perspective and continuously works to improve its functionalities.
In addition, a Round Table composed of expert advisors also contributesd to expanding the portal till the end of 2015.
Contact
If you have questions regarding the BQ-Portal please turn to the project office:
BQ-Portal Team
Konrad-Adenauer-Ufer 21, 50668 Cologne, Germany
Tel.: +49 (0)221 4981-873
The project office is available from 9 am until 5 pm.
Information portals for recognition
Since the Recognition Acts entered in force, the state government and the federal states established an extensive range of information structures aimed to support their implementation. The three information portals for recognition of foreign professional qualifications, “BQ-Portal”, “Recognition in Germany” and “anabin”, are central in this context. Their close cooperation ensures high quality content and consistency.
The BQ-Portal offers a comprehensive online work and knowledge sharing platform, which helps the assessment authorities and companies to better assess and evaluate vocational and further training qualifications obtained abroad.
On the portal “Recognition in Germany” the holders of foreign qualifications can find out, if their qualifications need to be officially recognized in order to practice their profession in Germany.
The database “anabin” provides information to evaluate foreign qualifications and assists public authorities, employers, employees as well as private persons in classifying a foreign qualification within the German education system.
Cooperation partners
Furthermore, the BQ-Portal cooperates closely with several projects in the area of securing skilled workers and integration:
The Competence Centre for securing skilled labor supports small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in finding and binding skilled workers, in gaining a reputation as an attractive employer and remaining competitive and successful.
The official website is the German government’s portal for qualified professionals from around the world. The portal, which can be browsed in a variety of different languages, offers information for those interested in moving to Germany – starting with preparations in the home country, to the actual move, to the first steps to be taken in Germany.
The project "Unternehmen Berufsanerkennung" of the DIHK and ZDH informs companies about the advantages and benefits of formal recognition of foreign credentials. Therefore 11 chambers of commerce and industry and 5 chambers of crafts working together to promote the recognition within the companies.
check.work supports the German economy in evaluating professional experiences and qualifications of refugees. The online application is easy to use, intercultural understandable and can be used early in the integration process. Therefore check.work helps refugees on their first steps into the German labour market.
NETZWERK Unternehmen integrieren Flüchtlinge is an initiative of the DIHK, supported by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWi). The initiative offers its member companies information on: legal issues, integration initiatives, best-practices, cooperations.
ProRecognition is a project funded by BMBFand coordinated by DIHK which supports recognition counselling abroad. ProRecognition currently provides counselling at a local level for skilled workers in 10 countries and is based in the Chambers of Foreign Trade and in Delegations of German Industry and Commerce (AHKs).
The Skills Analysis Network (NetQA) makes it easier for competent authorities to share their experiences in relation to skills analyses with the aim of further establishing the skills analysis process.
The “Integration through Qualification (IQ)” network provides information, one-to-one counselling and training on the recognition of foreign professional qualifications at a national level. Its objective is to improve labour market opportunities for people from a migration background.
Project Anerkannt (“Recognised”) in the educational institute of the German Trade Union Confederation (DGB-Bildungswerk BUND) supports the recognition culture in companies and departments.
The Central Service Agency for Professional Recognition (ZSBA) counsels skilled workers living abroad and supports them in the recognition procedure.
