School education is the key to digital general knowledge. We want the following: • Schools in Germany should catch up with international leaders in using digital media. • S trengthening the connectivity of companies and educational institutions by, for example, sharing innovation and knowledge management concepts developed by business with educational institutions. •A  ssisting start-ups in the education sector that use digital platforms to enhance access to the creative potential and expert knowledge of teachers. The dual system of vocational training is an important cornerstone of the strategy for satisfying future demand for skilled workers. It should also be a guarantee for quality and innovation ability – Made in Germany. Our goals: •T  o align the dual system of vocational training with the demands of a digital economy. Existing training programmes and continuing education programmes must be updated in conjunction with management and employee representatives with a view to teaching necessary digital capabilities. This also means that methods and problem solving skills should receive stronger support and financing. In companies without their own R&D departments, employees with a non-academic background will become a more significant integral part of the innovation process. •T  he industry-wide continuing education centres should be able to offer further training in digitisation at a high level. The necessary investments to set up these facilities will receive funding priority. For these purposes, an additional €8 million will be made available from 2016 to 2018. •T  he dual system of vocational training for IT jobs should be oriented more strictly to practical skills required, so that companies will continue to hire graduates from these programmes as an alternative to university graduates. For application-specific software development and programming, the dual system with its practical approach can offer advantages. Curriculum, scope and distinctions between the four dual IT vocational training majors are currently being reviewed by teachers, students, employer and employee representatives, as well as representatives from the federal states (until autumn of 2016). This will be the basis for modernising the following training programmes: IT systems electronics technician, Information technology specialist, IT system support specialist and information technology officer. www.de.digital 51