Cooperative education is the synergy of a Bachelor's study programme and vocational training or work experience. Companies help to develop study and exam schedules and they can customise training to meet their needs whilst staying up-to-date with the latest scientific and technological advances. Upon completion of a three to five year cooperative study programme, graduates can immediately jump into the world of work. However, the company has no obligation to hire a graduate!

Here in Rhineland-Palatinate, we have two types of cooperative study programmes qualifying the graduate to enter a profession. There is also the additional possibility of continuing further education on a work-integrated or professional development programme, however these do not fit into the category of cooperative study programmes according to the State's Higher Education Act.

Qualification: university Bachelor's degree and vocational qualification for a recognized training occupation

Student status: students on a cooperative study programme will conclude a standard apprenticeship or training agreement with the company and will be employed as an apprentice.

How it works: the university and company are both involved in developing the training programme, involving a study and work schedule. A vocational school may also be involved in this process. The schedules are often as follows:

Block style: the apprenticeship will take place before the study period (possibly with a vocational school), then the student will study on a full-time basis, completing more apprenticeship hours during semester breaks

Week style: students will split their week between their apprenticeship (possibly with a vocational school) and study time

Here in Rhineland-Palatinate, we have two types of cooperative study programmes qualifying the graduate to enter a profession. There is also the additional possibility of continuing further education on a work-integrated or professional development programme, however these do not fit into the category of cooperative study programmes according to the State's Higher Education Act.

Qualification: university Bachelor's degree

Student status: students on a cooperative study programme will have the title of trainee, intern or similar at the company

How it works: the university and company are both involved in developing the training programme, involving a study and work schedule. The practical part of the course comes in the form of work experience which is often completed en bloc during semester breaks or at the end of the study period.

In addition to cooperative study programmes pursued as part of a student's first work-related qualification, companies may also offer their employees further educational opportunities with work-integrated or professional development programmes (in accordance with the Higher Education Act, § 20, paragraph 4). Employees' talents can be pinpointed from within the company and then fostered accordingly, a method which, in most cases, encourages employees to stay at the company on a long-term basis - a useful retention management tool!

Work-integrating or professional development programmes (these do not fit into the category of cooperative study programmes according to the State's Higher Education Act) are a great way for any interested graduates of a vocational training course to pursue further academic education.

Further information on work-integrated education can be obtained at the individual universities or the Higher Education Compass.

We would like to thank you for your interest in cooperative education in Rhineland-Palatinate and we would be more than happy to help you get involved.

Below you'll find some pointers on how to participate in cooperative education:

1. Choosing a degree course

Search our database to see if there are any degree programmes which cover your field or go hand in hand with the training you offer

2. Concluding a cooperation agreement with the university

If you've found a programme that suits you, it's best to get in contact with the programme coordinators to find out more information regarding content and organisation. The university and company can then enter into a cooperation agreement. You can download a template here. For the time you need to tie up all the loose ends, you can use a letter of intent to formally secure the cooperation.

3. Selecting candidates

Devising a required profile for potential students can help you select your candidates:

• Make a clear list of requirements that the candidate must meet in relation to the company, study programme and future field of work or role level
• Define the limits on requirements for the purely vocational training internally
• Implement tools to check basic cognitive abilities, core qualifications and work-related activities

Many of our current partners recommend undertaking a thorough candidate selection process (e.g. aptitude test, small assessment centre...) to make sure that the students selected will be able to keep up with the demanding cooperative study programme.

Any students wishing to complete a cooperative study programme must hold a qualification which allows them to progress to university education, or similar.

4. Apprenticeship / training agreement

After an apprenticeship or training agreement for a cooperative study programme has been concluded with your chosen candidate, they must then enrol at the university, providing proof of the aforementioned qualification, as well as their apprenticeship/training agreement (cooperative education qualification agreement). As a company, you should provide the student with a living wage which is appropriate to their educational background (training allowance).

5. Enrolment

Together with the university you may set the number of places you would like to reserve for students working at your company in the cooperation agreement. This ensures that all students you suggest will be able to enrol, as only students who have a contract with your company will be able to do so. It is possible to alter the number of university places semester by semester by mutual agreement.

You can find information on enrolment deadlines by visiting the relevant university website.

6. Starting the cooperative study programme

Please note that time frames vary depending on whether you have opted to follow a study programme with an apprenticeship or work experience. The student's practical qualification may begin a few months before they start their academic studies (this is mostly the case for the programme with work experience), however sometimes the practical component may only begin after their first academic semester.

7. Student status and training schedule

Our current partners recommend organising a lot of introductory and team building activities so that students can immediately integrate into the company and get to work.

A training schedule can be drawn up to plan the student's experiences, including regular feedback sessions, getting to know the company as a whole and any subsidiaries, their first chance to assume responsibility and discussions about their career and qualifications.

Active exchange should be encouraged between the cooperative students and traditional apprentices within your company!

Setting up a new programme

If you are unable to find a cooperative study programme that meets your needs, just get in touch with us or contact a university of your choice. Your point of contact at a university would either be the Dean or the Head of Cooperative Education. You can then work together to see whether your requirements can somehow be integrated into an existing programme, or whether it would be possible to set up an entirely new course, in collaboration with other companies if need be.