Bundestechnologiezentrum für Elektro- und Informationstechnik

The Bundestechnologiezentrum für Elektro- und Informationstechnik (BFE) is a registered association (Verein) headquartered in Oldenburg, Germany, dedicated to vocational upgrading and further education in the electrical and information technology trades. Founded in 1947 as a master school (Meisterschule) for the electrical crafts, it began with a single four-month master course taught by four teachers in a dance hall on the Heiligengeistwall in Oldenburg's city centre. Over the following decades it grew into what it describes as Germany's largest private further-education provider in electrical and information technology, and the only educational centre in Germany to have all five master-craft specialisations permanently in its standard programme. The BFE's core business is the preparation of skilled tradespeople for the German Handwerksmeister qualification. It offers the five electrical and information technology master specialisations — electrical engineering master (Elektrotechnikermeister), energy and building services master, building systems integration master, automation technology and systems electronics master, and electrical machine construction master — alongside the information technology master. Beyond the master level, it provides advanced training as a business economist in the skilled crafts (Betriebswirt im Handwerk) and as a specialist planner for energy and building services (Fachplaner für Energie- und Gebäudetechnik). Its seminar catalogue covers more than 400 open and in-company topics each year, spanning occupational safety, electromagnetic compatibility and lightning protection, energy and building services, renewable energies, hazard detection and security technology, industrial automation, communication and data networks, fibre-optic technology, strategic information technology and IT security. A distinctive feature of the BFE is its digital learning media arm, bfe-media, which has produced interactive multimedia learning software since 1995 for both master and initial vocational training, as well as company-specific learning units, product training, videos and 3D visualisations. The centre also operates what it describes as Germany's only standards database (Normendatenbank) and offers a standards service (Normendienst), expert reports (Gutachten) and in-house training. It positions itself as a competence centre serving journeymen and skilled workers as well as chambers of commerce, vocational schools and companies. The BFE is governed by a board (Vorstand); Dieter Meyer serves as first chairman, with Stefanie Seyfarth having joined the board. It maintains close ties to the Handwerkskammer Oldenburg, which holds a central master graduation ceremony for the region's new master craftspeople. The institution has trained more than 27,000 master craftspeople since its founding and continues to run trade fairs, conferences and events such as the FEAG, the Oldenburger Schlüsselgespräche and specialist conferences on photovoltaics.

The history of the Bundestechnologiezentrum für Elektro- und Informationstechnik begins in post-war Germany. In 1947, the city of Oldenburg, the Handwerkskammer (chamber of skilled crafts) and the then Innungsobermeister Sandfuchs founded the institution as a master school (Meisterschule) with a nationwide mandate: to build, in war-devastated Germany, "an independent training for the entire federal territory that could not be surpassed in depth and specialisation." The beginnings were modest. In a rustic pub called the "Meisterklausel", four teachers instructed their students in a dance hall on the Heiligengeistwall in Oldenburg's city centre. The first master course began on 17 June 1947 and lasted four months. For roughly four decades the school focused on master training. Then, in 1990, the first lecturers began to hold seminars — at the time still an innovation in the education market. The BFE also advocated for the introduction of advanced training paths for masters in Germany: in 1985 the Betriebswirt des Handwerks (business economist in the skilled crafts) was added to the training plan, followed in 1991 by the Fachplaner für Energie- und Gebäudetechnik (specialist planner for energy and building services). In 1994 the BFE became the first educational institution in the state to be certified according to ISO 9001, committing itself to transparent quality management. In 1997, a project group at the BFE developed the idea of a programme to help users learn effectively and — as the source text puts it — "strecke..." (the excerpt is truncated). This marked the beginning of the institution's digital learning activities. Since 1995, the bfe-Multimedia team (later bfe-media) has produced multimedia interactive learning software suitable for self-study on the PC, for both master training and initial vocational training. Over time, bfe-media also produced company-specific learning units, product training, videos and 3D visualisations. The BFE grew into the largest master school in Germany, with more than 27,000 masters trained there. It is the only educational service provider in electrical and information technology to offer all five master specialisations as well as the Betriebswirt and Fachplaner as further career steps. Its lecturers prepare more than 400 open and in-company seminar titles each year, and the institution is regarded as Germany's number one in further education for the electrical and information technology sector. Qualifications in lightning and surge protection, for example, originated at the BFE and are now standard training nationwide. BFE lecturers also helped draft all framework curricula (Rahmenlehrpläne) for the five electrical and information technology master qualifications in cooperation with the Zentralverband ZVEH. Today the BFE describes itself as a competence centre for vocational upgrading and further education in electrical and information technology. It operates Germany's only standards database, offers a standards service and expert reports, and engages in committees and funding projects for the future and quality of further education in the electricity sector. It is governed by a board; Dieter Meyer is first chairman, and Stefanie Seyfarth has joined the board. The Handwerkskammer Oldenburg holds a central master graduation ceremony for the region's new masters, at which 440 young masters gathered at one recent event.

• 1997

  A project group develops the idea for a digital learning programme.

• 1995

  The bfe-Multimedia team begins producing multimedia interactive learning software.

• 1994

  The BFE becomes the first educational institution in the state to be certified according to ISO 9001.

• 1991

  The Fachplaner für Energie- und Gebäudetechnik (specialist planner for energy and building services) is introduced.

• 1990

  First lecturers begin holding seminars, then an innovation in the education market.

• 1985

  The Betriebswirt des Handwerks (business economist in the skilled crafts) is added to the training plan.

• 1947

  Founded as a master school by the city of Oldenburg, the Handwerkskammer and Innungsobermeister Sandfuchs; first master course begins on 17 June 1947.

Germany's largest private further-education provider in electrical and information technology, and the only educational centre in Germany with all five master specialisations in its standard programme.

• Elektrotechnikermeister (electrical engineering master)

• Elektrotechnikermeister Energie- und Gebäudetechnik (energy and building services master)

• Elektrotechnikermeister Gebäudesystemintegration (building systems integration master)

• Elektrotechnikermeister Automatisierungstechnik und Systemelektronik (automation technology and systems electronics master)

• Elektromaschinenbauermeister (electrical machine construction master)

• Informationstechnikermeister (information technology master)

• Betriebswirt im Handwerk

• Fachplaner für Energie- und Gebäudetechnik

• bfe-media interactive learning software

• Normendienst and Normendatenbank

• Gutachten (expert reports)

1. 1Startseite | Bundestechnologiezentrumbfe.de
2. 2Geschichte | Bundestechnologiezentrumbfe.de
3. 3Deutschlands Weiterbilder Nummer eins | Bundestechnologiezentrumbfe.de
4. 4Bundestechnologiezentrum | Bundestechnologiezentrumbfe.de
5. 5Bundestechnologiezentrum für Elektro- und Informationstechnikwikidata.org
6. 6Bundestechnologiezentrum für Elektro- und Informationstechnikde.wikipedia.org