On 10 December 2021, the Dual Vocational Training Program for the Hospitality Sector was officially launched in Diani by the Delegation of German Industry and Commerce for Eastern Africa in cooperation with their Kenyan partners: Diani Sea Lodge, Diani Sea Resort, Leopard Beach Resort & Spa as the training companies, and Kenya Methodist University (KeMU) as the vocational school partner. The training began on the 4th of October and will work towards equipping 12 trainees with the core skills necessary to make a successful career in the hospitality industry after two and a half years of training.
This was launched by the Delegation of German Industry and Commerce for Eastern Africa, as part of the Skills Expert project funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action, that has supported the implementation of the dual VET system in Kenya as an ideal form of vocational training since 2017. The German dual TVET program works to build sustainable structures within the private sector through 60 to 70 percent of practical training taking place in the company and 30 to 40 percent of theory training taking place in the vocational school.
This kind of practical training can only work if the trainers have the necessary pedagogical and didactic knowledge. Therefore, the Delegation offered and conducted the necessary Training of Trainer course for the participating companies and the school partner. This ToT course is based on the German Trainer Aptitude regulations and every participant successfully passed the examination.
During the official launch, a Memorandum of Understanding was also signed between the Delegation of German Industry and Commerce for Eastern Africa and with Kenya Methodist University (KeMU). Afterwards, the successful trainers were awarded their certificates.
The Skills Expert Program, implemented by the Delegation of German Industry and Commerce for Eastern Africa is making significant strides in Kenya as this comes after the first ever cohort of a dual vocational training program was successfully completed in Nairobi. Trainees within this cohort completed and passed their final chef examination in September and received a certificate from AHK Services Eastern Africa Limited, which is recognized as a diploma in Kenya and corresponds to level 6. The second Nairobi cohort started in October 2021 with now seven training companies and 11 trainees.