Apprenticeship programme

The aim of the "International Apprenticeship Exchange" is to train young German skilled workers and university graduates from the field of agriculture/agricultural science via an outbound apprenticeship in Europa and outside Europe that enables them to gain insights into international agriculture and, in particular, international agricultural markets. The outbound apprenticeship gives them the opportunity to learn about both other forms of agricultural production (for example, livestock practices in England or New Zealand, horticulture in Japan) and foreign cultures.

The aim of the "Apprenticeship Programme Eastern Europe and Central Asia" is to give agriculture/agricultural science graduates from these regions insight into local knowledge and practices via an inbound apprenticeship at German agricultural companies. The apprentices learn about the economic practices and market conditions of the privately run German companies, for example with respect to production processes, principles and techniques regarding crop cultivation, ecological farming, livestock, bioenergy production, forestry, horticulture and viniculture, housekeeping, business administration and company management, marketing, nature and environmental protection, organisation of labour, work safety, staff leadership, as well as ecological and social framework conditions.

The apprenticeship also includes regular expert seminars. Knowledge is imparted not just in theoretical form, but also by observing practices at particular production sites, giving participants a broad overview of the entire organisation, the structure of the agricultural sector, and the latest technological developments in this sector in Germany. 

Information for applicants

Funding recipients

Non-governmental organisations, regardless of their legal form, with their head office in the Federal Republic of Germany and with experience in initial and continuing education and training and/or as sponsors of apprenticeship programmes are eligible to apply.

The aim of the apprenticeship programme is to support projects from non-governmental organisations based in the Federal Republic of Germany that help young agricultural workers from Ukraine and Kazakhstan.

•  Project funding allows the applicant organisation to organise a four-to-six-month (inbound) apprenticeship in the Federal Republic of Germany.
• that use project funding to enable young German agricultural workers to do a three-to-twelve-month foreign (outbound) apprenticeship in Europe or overseas.

or

• that use project funding to enable young German agriculture, in particular horticulture students to do a six-to-twelve-month foreign (outbound) apprenticeship in Japan. The apprenticeship programme between Germany and Japan also includes a six-to-twelve-month (inbound) apprenticeship for Japanese agriculture students in Germany.

Participant in the International Apprenticeship Programme with sheep farmers in New Zealand Source: Schorlemer Stiftung des Dt. Bauernverbandes

Applications

Project applications are to be submitted to BLE – Department 334 Climate, Global Food Security and International Cooperation

Applications, including a legally binding signature, must be submitted no later than three months before the project start date using the easy-Online platform and by email to Int.Praktikantenprogramm@ble.de. Only in this way can we guarantee that we will make a decision by the time the project is due to begin. The apprenticeship programme does not permit a project start ahead of schedule.

Please submit your application with legally binding signature (see easy-Online platform) by email to Int.Praktikantenprogramm@ble.de at the

German Federal Office for Agriculture and Food (BLE)
Department 334
Deichmanns Aue 29
53179 Bonn, Germany

The “ Richtlinie über die Förderung der Durchführung eines Praktikantenaufenthaltes für junge Nachwuchskräfte des Agrarbereichs aus Mittel- und Osteuropa sowie Zentralasien in der Bundesrepublik Deutschland vom 1. April 2015  (PDF, 66 KB, File does not meet accessibility standards.) (text in German only).

Projects can be funded according to this directive and to the administrative provisions (Verwaltungsvorschriften, VV) of §§ 23, 44 of the German Federal Budget Code (Bundeshaushaltsordnung, BHO) via Richtlinien für Zuwendungsanträge auf Ausgabenbasis (PDF, 100 KB, File does not meet accessibility standards.) (text in German only). There is no legal entitlement to the provision of funding. The funding body decides on the application at its due discretion under consideration of the available budget.

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