Today, we all met up at our designated classroom. Around 9:30, we went to the Chamber of Commerce (IHK). When we arrived, they gave us some coffee and candies, and they explained how their Chamber of Commerce works. It is formed by members who must pay an annual fee and these represent Germany’s commercial, industrial, and service sectors. It is much different from the chambers of commerce in the United States that focus more on tourism. In Germany, the Chamber of Commerce provides services like training and certification for students. They are like a bridge between students and companies in that they can connect students with companies that offer specific vocational training and certification.

They explained the educational dual systems, a vocational training model that combines theoretical education at vocational schools with practical work experience in companies. This system ensures students gain academic knowledge and hands-on skills, leading to high employment rates and a well-trained workforce.

They told us how these companies pay the student’s education and salary, which can increase yearly until the three years when they finish their apprenticeship. After that, students take a test, graduate, and get their certification from the Chamber of Commerce.   

They also did a presentation on Germany’s Green Deal. Their goal is to make the country more environmentally friendly. It focuses on using more renewable energy, reducing waste, and promoting eco-friendly industries. The plan involves investing in green technologies and setting strict rules to protect the environment. All industries must check all the requirements for sustainability. It can be a little challenging for small and medium businesses that don’t have enough money, and could go out of business. 

Afterward, they gave us a small lunch, and we went to our second place, Bruder-Grimm-Akademie College of Arts in Hanau. At BGBA University they explained their system that is based on innovation and design. Design management is media design, metalworking, and goldsmith; Innovation marketing is marketing and industrial management. They gave us a tour of some of their classrooms and showed us how students work with wood and metal. We went to the design room and saw the different tools they work with. They also explained that their focus is on furniture like stools and wardrobes. We saw some stools that they had designed, and we also went to the jewelry room. They showed us how they were working on the top part of the ring that holds the diamond.

To finish the day, we went to the Bestworscht to try their different spicy sauce levels. Only Tye, Chinedu, Angela, and I tried them. We started with B+ and C, which are in the middle and we were all okay, we could handle it, but after we tried the F, which is one under the spiciest sauce, it was so spicy that Angela and I teared up, and Chinedu’s eyes were all red. We had to drink some chocolate milk, bread and water.

~Karla R.