jakobb Berlin: Future of Dual Training | Alphabees

Dual vocational training is under pressure. Declining applicant numbers, rising demands for digital competencies, and the skilled labor shortage are forcing training managers to rethink their approaches. The Annual Congress for Vocational Education – jakobb for short – showed in Berlin at the end of April 2026 for the first time what answers the industry is finding to these challenges. Two topics took center stage that have immediate relevance for decision-makers in companies and educational institutions: artificial intelligence and personalized learning.

Transformation of Vocational Education: More Than a Buzzword

Around 500 education stakeholders accepted the invitation to Berlin. Training managers from companies, principals of vocational schools, and representatives of chambers and associations discussed the future of dual vocational training over two days. The message was clear: what worked in the past is not enough for the future.

Manja Schreiner, Managing Director of the Berlin Chamber of Commerce and Industry, put it succinctly: trainers must bring openness and flexibility, as proven success formulas are losing their validity. This statement hits the core of what many education managers are currently experiencing. The demands on trainees are changing faster than training content can be adapted.

Bob Blume, known as the "Netzlehrer" (network teacher) and one of the defining voices in the German education debate, called for education that creates real relevance in his keynote. Learning must strengthen competencies for future action and connect the various learning locations. For dual vocational training, this means: companies and vocational schools must work more closely together – and digital tools can establish this connection.

AI as a Tool for Training Managers

Artificial intelligence was one of the central topics of the congress. It was not about abstract visions of the future, but about concrete applications in everyday training. The question that preoccupied many participants: How can AI be used without replacing personal mentoring?

The answer lies in the concept of AI-assisted tutoring. Intelligent systems can support trainees with routine questions, identify knowledge gaps, and suggest individual learning paths. This relieves trainers of repetitive explanatory tasks and creates space for guidance on complex challenges.

For companies with limited training resources, this is a decisive advantage. When an AI tutor can answer basic questions about learning content around the clock, it improves the quality of support without additional staffing costs. At the same time, trainers gain valuable insights into their trainees' learning progress.

Personalized Learning as an Answer to Heterogeneous Learning Groups

The participants at jakobb Berlin were also concerned with the increasing heterogeneity in training groups. Different educational backgrounds, learning speeds, and language skills pose considerable challenges for trainers. Personalized learning offers a solution here.

The principle is simple: instead of confronting all learners with the same content at the same pace, the learning offering adapts to individual needs. AI-powered systems can make this adaptation automatically. They recognize where individual trainees are struggling and offer targeted additional exercises or explanations.

For education managers, this means a paradigm shift. The question is no longer how all trainees can reach the same level, but how each individual can be optimally supported. This requires technical infrastructure – but also a rethinking of training organization.

Integration into Existing Systems as a Success Factor

A recurring theme at the congress was the question of practical implementation. Many companies and educational institutions already work with learning management systems like Moodle. The introduction of additional tools often fails due to the effort required for training and system changes.

This is where the advantage of solutions that seamlessly integrate into existing structures becomes apparent. An AI tutor that is directly integrated into Moodle requires no new learning environment. Trainees and trainers continue to work with the familiar interface – enhanced by intelligent support functions.

This integration is also relevant from a data protection perspective. Especially in the DACH region, educational institutions and companies depend on solutions that comply with strict European data protection requirements. Cloud services from third countries quickly reach their limits here.

Visibility as a Strategic Task

Bob Blume spoke in Berlin about a necessary effort to make vocational education visible. This statement is directed squarely at decision-makers in companies and educational institutions. Anyone who wants to attract qualified trainees must demonstrate that dual vocational training opens up attractive career paths.

Modern training concepts with digital components are a competitive advantage here. Young people expect contemporary learning environments. A company that offers AI-assisted learning support signals innovative strength and willingness to invest in training.

The numbers speak clearly: the number of young people choosing vocational training has been declining for years. To reverse this trend, new approaches are needed. jakobb Berlin showed that the industry has recognized this challenge and is actively seeking solutions.

Conclusion: Pressure to Act and Options for Action

The vocational education congress in Berlin made clear that dual vocational training is at a turning point. The combination of demographic change, technological transformation, and changing expectations of young people requires new approaches. AI-assisted learning support and personalized learning are no longer future concepts, but available tools for education managers who want to make their training future-proof. The question is no longer whether these technologies will enter vocational education, but how quickly companies and educational institutions will utilize them.

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