Zentralstelle für die Weiterbildung im Handwerk

The Zentralstelle für die Weiterbildung im Handwerk e.V. (ZWH) is a nationwide service institution for the German skilled crafts sector (Handwerk) and its educational establishments. Headquartered in Düsseldorf with an office in Berlin, it describes itself as the education service provider for lifelong learning in the crafts. It was founded as a registered association in 1997, having previously been a department of the Westdeutscher Handwerkskammertag (WHKT). It is carried by 53 German chambers of crafts (Handwerkskammern) together with the Zentralverband des Deutschen Handwerks (ZDH), the Arbeitsgemeinschaft der Handwerkskammern in Baden-Württemberg and the WHKT. The ZWH develops, disseminates and helps implement initial, further and continuing education concepts for the crafts. Its work spans curriculum and teaching-material development, framework curricula, examination question banks, digitalisation of examinations, e-learning concepts, and the training of trainers, instructors and examiners. It also advises on education management and sustainable business practices, and offers services in IT, digital learning, graphic design and public relations. Since 1999 it has developed and provided e-learning offerings, including online qualifications, learning platforms, online conference systems and digital examinations for education centres and chambers. Beyond its member services, the ZWH carries out national and international projects on labour-market and education-policy questions on behalf of the European Union and of federal and state ministries. Notable projects include Berufsbildung ohne Grenzen (mobility advice in the chambers), the Netzwerk Integration durch Qualifizierung (IQ) network for improving migrants' labour-market chances, and the JOBSTARTER Regionalbüro West. It also organises the annual ZWH-Bildungskonferenz, held since 1999 and regarded as one of the largest industry gatherings for education decision-makers. The ZWH is governed by a board (Vorstand) elected by a members' assembly, and it operates a subsidiary, ZWH Dienstleistungs-GmbH. Its members are the German chambers of crafts, the Baden-Württemberg chambers' working group, the WHKT and the ZDH. Through this structure the ZWH functions as a central, publicly oriented education service provider for the crafts rather than a commercial training company.

The Zentralstelle für die Weiterbildung im Handwerk (ZWH) was founded as a registered association (e.V.) in 1997. Before that, it had been a department of the Westdeutscher Handwerkskammertag (WHKT). Its seat is in Düsseldorf, and it operates nationwide as a service institution for all craft education establishments. It is carried by 53 German chambers of crafts and the Zentralverband des Deutschen Handwerks (ZDH), together with the Arbeitsgemeinschaft der Handwerkskammern in Baden-Württemberg and the WHKT. From 2003 to 2015 the WHKT's main managing director, Reiner Nolten (who died in 2018), was also a member of the ZWH board. The ZWH's core task since 1998 has been to promote vocational qualification in the crafts. It develops, disseminates and helps implement initial, further and continuing education concepts; produces education needs analyses and course concepts; carries out publicly commissioned education projects; writes training materials; trains trainers, instructors and examiners; and distributes course materials for initial and further education. It also transfers project results and organises events for clients in the education sector. A further focus is new media and e-learning. Since 1999 the ZWH has developed and provided e-learning offerings. Together with the chambers of crafts and other education actors it develops and provides online qualifications, learning platforms, online conference systems and digital examinations for education centres and chambers. It also runs seminars, offered both as open seminars and as in-house training, structured into seven thematic fields including trainers and instructors, advisers (especially training advisers), managers, and examiners. Since 1999 the ZWH has held the annual ZWH-Bildungskonferenz; in 2018 it took place for the 20th time and is regarded as one of the largest industry gatherings for education decision-makers. On behalf of the European Union and of federal and state ministries, the ZWH carries out national and international projects on labour-market and education-policy questions. Notable projects include Berufsbildung ohne Grenzen (mobility advice in the chambers, supported by the BMAS and the ESF), the Netzwerk Integration durch Qualifizierung (IQ) for improving migrants' labour-market chances (supported by BMAS, BMBF and the Bundesagentur für Arbeit), and the JOBSTARTER Regionalbüro West covering North Rhine-Westphalia, Rhineland-Palatinate and Saarland (supported by the BMBF, with the BIBB as partner). The ZWH is headed by a board (Vorstand) consisting of a chairman, a deputy chairman, three further board members and the managing director, elected by the members' assembly. As of the members' assembly of 26 February 2019 the board comprised Dirk Palige (chairman), Jürgen Kilger (deputy chairman), Jürgen Wittke, Ina-Maria Heidmann and Meinolf Niemand. The ZWH also has a subsidiary, ZWH Dienstleistungs-GmbH. Its members are the German chambers of crafts, the Arbeitsgemeinschaft der Handwerkskammern in Baden-Württemberg, the WHKT and the ZDH.

• 2026

  ZWH takes over sponsorship of EAA Berlin (14 January); handfest EXTRA 2026 available to order (19 January); early-access version of the Zukunfts-Kompass Handwerk online tool (2 March).

• 2019

  Members' assembly of 26 February elects the board including chairman Dirk Palige.

• 2018

  The ZWH-Bildungskonferenz takes place for the 20th time.

• 2003

  Reiner Nolten (WHKT) joins the ZWH board, serving until 2015.

• 1999

  ZWH begins developing and providing e-learning offerings; the annual ZWH-Bildungskonferenz is held for the first time.

• 1998

  ZWH begins its task of promoting vocational qualification in the crafts.

• 1997

  ZWH founded as a registered association (e.V.); previously a department of the Westdeutscher Handwerkskammertag.

• ZWH-Bildungskonferenz 2027 scheduled for 23–24 February in Düsseldorf.

A central, publicly oriented education service provider for the German skilled crafts sector, funded and carried by the chambers of crafts and the ZDH.

• Course and teaching materials for craft education

• Framework curricula

• Examination question banks and digital examinations

• E-learning concepts and learning platforms

• Seminars (open and in-house) across seven thematic fields

• Publications

1. 1ZWH /// Zentralstelle für die Weiterbildung im Handwerkzwh.de
2. 2Über uns - ZWH /// Zentralstelle für die Weiterbildung im Handwerk e. V.zwh.de
3. 3ZWH /// Karriere und Jobs bei der ZWHzwh.de
4. 4Zentralstelle für die Weiterbildung im Handwerkwikidata.org
5. 5Zentralstelle für die Weiterbildung im Handwerkde.wikipedia.org