Large Sum of Over 200 Million Euros Allotted for Professional Development
**Baden-Württemberg's Chamber of Crafts Advances Major Training Academy Projects**
In a significant move to bolster vocational education infrastructure, the Chamber of Crafts (Handwerkskammer) in Baden-Württemberg has launched two major projects in Karlsruhe and Geradstetten. These projects, amounting to approximately 215 million euros, mark the largest single investment in the chamber's history.
In Karlsruhe, construction of the new training academy is underway, with groundwork and structural phases completed as of early 2025. The academy, scheduled for operation by late 2025 or early 2026, aims to provide cutting-edge training facilities for various craft professions. The architectural design for this project was won by Harter + Kanzler & Partner from Freiburg. The academy will be built on a 28,000 square meter plot of land in Neureut, northwest of Karlsruhe.
Meanwhile, in Geradstetten, construction is underway on the banks of the Rems at the existing training center site. The training center in Geradstetten is the largest of the association and the largest educational center for construction machinery in Germany. The project, led by the Vienna office of Schenker Salvi Weber Architekten ZT, must proceed step by step to ensure that training operations can continue. Completion and opening are projected for 2027.
Both academies focus on modernizing craft training, incorporating sustainable building methods, and addressing skilled labor shortages in the region. The use of recycled concrete and materials from the region is expected to minimize the CO2 footprint in the new construction projects.
The federal and state governments will cover 70 percent of the costs for these projects. The main burden of the costs for the new training academy in Karlsruhe will be borne by the public sector, with the federal government covering 45 percent and the state of Baden-Württemberg 25 percent. The Chamber of Crafts will have to cover 30 percent itself.
The construction industry in Baden-Württemberg is undergoing renovation and new construction at many places in the country. In fact, the industry has been included in the project network of the International Building Exhibition IBA27. The educational institution of the crafts has a significant impact on seven urban and rural districts in the region.
It is important to note that the funding decisions for the new training academy in Karlsruhe are still pending. For the most precise and up-to-date status, checking directly with the Chamber of Crafts Baden-Württemberg’s official announcements or contacting their regional offices in Karlsruhe and Geradstetten is recommended.
Off-the-job training is regulated by the Vocational Training Act, which came into force in the Federal Republic in 1969. These new academies are set to play a crucial role in providing the necessary training for the future workforce in Baden-Württemberg.
- The new training academy in Karlsruhe, focus areas will include providing cutting-edge training facilities for various craft professions, as part of education-and-self-development, personal-growth, and career-development.
- The construction industry, responsible for the new academy's construction in Karlsruhe, is leveraging sustainable building methods to minimize CO2 footprint, aligning with the industry's efforts in finance and environmental responsibility.
- Both academies, through modernizing craft training, aim to address skilled labor shortages in the region, contributing significantly to the local economy and the economy at large in terms of industry and employment.
- The learning and skills-training provided at these academies will play a vital role in enhancing the future workforce's competencies, bridging the gap between vocational education and the industry's demands.
