Tamil Nadu Partners With German Industry To Launch Landmark Vocational Training Programme

Chennai, India - 2nd September, 2025 - In a milestone for international education and workforce development, Guidance Tamil Nadu and the German consortium NextMittelstand yesterday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to bring Germany's world-renowned dual vocational training system to Tamil Nadu.

The programme will begin with 120 students in its first intake and is set to expand to 20,000 trainees over the next decade, positioning Tamil Nadu as a model state for industry-driven skill development and Indo-German collaboration.

A First-of-Its-Kind Initiative

This agreement marks the first large-scale initiative by German industry to export its dual vocational training model abroad. The system, celebrated as a key driver of Germany's economic success, combines classroom instruction with structured workplace learning-ensuring graduates are job-ready and globally competitive.

Strengthening Tamil Nadu's SME Ecosystem

Beyond skills development, the collaboration aims to:

• Boost Tamil Nadu's SME sector, inspired by Germany's Mittelstand model.
• Attract fresh German investments into the state's industrial ecosystem.
• Prepare skilled talent for both Indian and German markets, addressing the global shortage of qualified professionals.

To anchor the project, the German consortium has established a new entity in Germany and is building partnerships and infrastructure to involve more German companies in the initiative.

Leaders Speak

Prof. Dr. Martin Wortmann, Secretary General of the Education Alliance of the German Mittelstand (BVMW) and former President of Rheinische Hochschule Cologne, highlighted:

“This opens the opportunity to sustainably export the German dual vocational training system to Tamil Nadu in close cooperation with industry and the public sector.”

André Krüger, Managing Director of TecMed Bildung GmbH, added:

“Germany is grappling with a pronounced skills shortage and needs strong international partners to address it. Tamil Nadu is the ideal partner, with its young talent, strong industrial base, and forward-looking government.”

Strategic Impact for India

The MoU reinforces Tamil Nadu's role as India's gateway for global investment and innovation, aligning with the state's vision to emerge as a hub for advanced manufacturing, skilled workforce development, and cross-border partnerships.

With Germany as India's largest trading partner in Europe, this collaboration symbolizes deeper economic ties and people-to-people exchange, ensuring long-term benefits for both nations.

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