Finding global internships in Germany

In time for German President Joachim Gauck’s visit to Korea, the Korean-German Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Human Resources Development Service of Korea signed an MOU for business cooperation as strategic partners. The agreement is a follow-up measure on the joint agreement on cooperation in vocational training and education signed when President Park Geun-hye visited Germany in March, 2014.

The Korean-German Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Human Resources Development Service of Korea are planning various programs to resolve the youth unemployment issue and to provide human resources to German companies. One of the key ideas is the K-Move program, which the Industry and the Human Resources Development Service promotes with Baden-Wurttemberg. The German state is known as home to many solid small and medium-sized businesses. It has the most number of hidden champions among the 16 states of Germany.

For many years, Korea has been modeling after Germany’s highway system, environmental treatments and unification process. The current administration also follows the examples of Germany’s work-study program and vocational training.

Young Koreans can experience the work-study opportunities and on-site education through the K-Move program. Korean-German Chamber of Commerce and Industry President Stefan Halusa said that the K-Move program can provide Koreans with college education with great opportunities to accumulate practical knowledge and international work experiences.

The talented young Koreans can contribute to expansion of business in Korea as well as the Asian market. They can also experience German culture through an internship there, and Germany will have opportunities to promote its language, culture, values as well as strength in innovation and production. It will be an advantage policy for both countries.

To address increasing demands for skilled professionals in Germany and shortage of labor as a result of demographic changes, Germany keeps doors for foreign interns open. Students interested in the K-Move program can receive administrative assistance with visa and other regulations. Currently, Germany’s foreign work force is mostly in industries lacking professional workforce, and IT technicians, engineers and elderly care staffs are in need.

Internships at German companies will become a springboard of opportunity to develop career paths and accumulate global market experiences for young Koreans.

by Barbara Zollmann, Secretary general & executive director of the Korean-German Chamber of Commerce and Industry