Students learn career-specific vocabulary and terminology for their chosen occupation and are supported by educators and social workers throughout their participation in the programme. The BOFplus programme consists of sessions held in colleges specialising in vocational training and on-site with the partnered employer or the company.

Initial orientation period

As part of the programme, both the participants and the employer have the opportunity to try whether they consider the BOFplus course to be suitable during an initial orientation period. The orientation usually lasts for about a week and takes place at a vocational training centre. 

Practical work experience provides more detailed vocational orientation

Special sessions are staged at the workshops and practice rooms of inter-company vocational training centres. These courses provide participants with the opportunity to pick up to five different jobs to try out and see if one of them is the right fit. They spend a minimum of nine weeks and a maximum of 26 weeks (or 34 weeks if completing the programme part-time) gaining first-hand experience in their chosen professions.

After completion of this programme, they should make an informed decision on whether one or several of these professions are suitable in the long run.

As part of this workshop series, participants also learn more about the structure and contents of apprenticeships in Germany in general whilst also gaining insight into the what is required for the apprenticeships they are trying out. This is supposed to prepare them for attending vocational college during their apprenticeship.

Company-based work shadowing to try the chosen profession

Based on what they have learned during the BOFplus courses, participants then choose a profession or job for their work shadowing placement. This allows them to try out the job in practice and see how people actually work in it. Afterwards, they can make an informed decision on whether it is the right fit for them. Participants are placed with a company for four to eight weeks. During this time period they will have the opportunity to put into practice what they learned throughout their participation in the BOFplus programme.

They also get to know the host company – and return the potential future employer also get to know the potential future apprentices.

Acquiring job-specific vocabulary and other specialist knowledge

During the BOFplus course, participants receive intensive specialist language training. It can also be expected that students improve further on their job-specific language skills whilst on their placement with the company.

Part-time hours are an option

The BOFplus-Programme is also available on a part-time basis. It is expected that this will help parents with childcare responsibilities. Participants are also eligible for support with the organisation of childcare arrangements.

Throughout the programme all participants benefit from continued support that is tailored to meet their individual needs. The BOFplus educational staff provide them with regular verbal feedback and with written documentation of their learning progress. These support workers also facilitate the process of finding future training opportunities, an apprenticeship or another form of qualification.

Another option open to participants is coaching via the so-called Senior Expert Service (SES) after the BOFplus-course. This assistance is provided by specialists from various fields who are now in retirement.

Here you can find the locations of the BOFplus-Projects in Germany.

Here you can find all the information regarding the programme in brief.