LIfBi is currently training junior staff in three professions: Specialists for market and social research, IT specialists for system integration, and clerks for office management. Training for market and social research specialists has only existed in Germany as a state-recognized occupation since 2006. It was created to specifically qualify junior employees who plan, organize and control the implementation of surveys and interviews in close cooperation with academic researchers, in order to relieve academics of the operational-organizational activities in the research sector.

"We received approval as a training company from the responsible Chamber of Industry and Commerce for Upper Franconia already in the year after our foundation and started to train junior staff at the institute in September 2015. As an educational research institution, it is important to us to actively support dual training in Germany and to help the skilled workers of tomorrow get off to a good start in their careers. Conversely, the institute benefits in many ways from the commitment that the young people bring to us," says Ilona Kellermann, head of human resources and training at LIfBi.

The practical part of the training at LIfBi is primarily based at the Research Data Center (FDZ). Stations in other scientific and administrative work areas of LIfBi complement the three-year training plan. An off-the-job exchange with another organization is also planned. Here, LIfBi can rely on cooperation with survey institutes from the field of market and social research and with statistical state offices.

Photo: from left: Dr. Lydia Kleine (trainer), Ilona Kellermann (personnel and training manager), Daniel Bela (trainer) and Janine Mech (trainee).