# Federal Institute for Vocational Education and Training

> state research institution in Germany

**Wikidata**: [Q1006222](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1006222)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/federal-institute-for-vocational-education-and-training

## Summary
The Federal Institute for Vocational Education and Training (BIBB) is a state research institution based in Bonn, Germany, established in 1970 to conduct educational research. Operating as a public-law institution under the Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space, it serves as a dedicated organization for generating knowledge in the field of vocational education. It is recognized internationally through various identifiers and maintains a significant digital presence across multiple social media and academic platforms.

## Key Facts
- **Official Name:** Bundesinstitut für Berufsbildung (BIBB)
- **Established:** 1970
- **Location:** Friedrich-Ebert-Allee 114-116, 53113 Bonn, Germany (Coordinates: 50.70957293888889, 7.127747519444444)
- **Legal Form:** Public-law institution
- **Industry:** Educational research
- **Field of Work:** Vocational education
- **Parent Organization:** Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space
- **Current President:** Friedrich Hubert Esser (since May 2011)
- **Former President:** Hermann Schmidt (1977–1997)
- **Contact:** Phone: +49-228-107-0; Email: zentrale@bibb.de
- **Website:** https://www.bibb.de/ (German), https://www.bibb.de/en (English)
- **VAT Number:** DE205571125
- **ROR ID:** 0420tmj11
- **GND ID:** 2183738-7

## FAQs
### Q: What is the primary function of the Federal Institute for Vocational Education and Training?
As a research institute, its primary purpose is to conduct research specifically in the field of vocational education. Unlike universities, it focuses solely on generating new knowledge through systematic investigation rather than granting degrees or providing undergraduate teaching.

### Q: Who oversees the Institute and when was it founded?
The Institute is a public-law institution founded in 1970. It operates under the oversight of the Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space.

### Q: How can the public or researchers access information from the BIBB?
The Institute provides extensive information online via its German and English websites. It also maintains a library as part of its facilities and offers press information, contact pages, and official job listings via specific URLs on its domain.

### Q: What distinguishes the BIBB from a think tank?
While think tanks primarily conduct policy-oriented research to influence government decisions, the BIBB, as a research institute, focuses on fundamental scientific inquiry and investigation within the discipline of vocational education.

### Q: What organizations is the BIBB affiliated with?
The Institute is a member of the Working Group of the German Federal Departmental Research Establishments, Informationsdienst Wissenschaft, and the German Commission for UNESCO.

## Why It Matters
The Federal Institute for Vocational Education and Training serves as a critical engine for discovery in the German educational landscape. By existing purely to generate new knowledge regarding vocational training, it provides a focused environment for research free from the teaching obligations that characterize universities. This concentration of resources allows for long-term, systematic investigation into vocational methodologies, benefiting the broader infrastructure of educational research. As a public-law institution, it plays a key role in shaping the scientific understanding of vocational education, distinct from commercial entities or policy-focused think tanks. Its work helps address complex challenges in education and training, acting as specialized infrastructure for advancing human knowledge in this specific sector.

## Notable For
- Being a state research institution dedicated exclusively to vocational education.
- Operating as a public-law institution rather than a university or private company.
- Maintaining a specific legal and organizational identity distinct from think tanks or scientific societies.
- Long-standing operational history since 1970.
- Hosting a specialized library dedicated to its field of work.
- Extensive international recognition through identifiers like ISNI, VIAF, and ROR.

## Body

### Organizational Structure and Leadership
The Federal Institute for Vocational Education and Training (BIBB) is formally recognized as a public-law institution. It classifies as a research institute, a type of organization defined by its primary purpose to conduct research rather than teaching or commercial activity. The institute's industry is categorized as educational research, with a specific field of work in vocational education.

The leadership of the institute is headed by a President. **Friedrich Hubert Esser** has held this position since May 2011. He was preceded by **Hermann Schmidt**, who served from 1977 to 1997. The institute operates under the parent organization of the **Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space**.

### Membership and Affiliation
The BIBB is an active member of several prominent organizations. It belongs to the **Working Group of the German Federal Departmental Research Establishments** and is a member of **Informationsdienst Wissenschaft**. Additionally, it holds membership in the **German Commission for UNESCO**.

### Location and Facilities
The institute is headquartered in **Bonn**, Germany. Its physical address is Friedrich-Ebert-Allee 114-116, 53113 Bonn. The geographical coordinates are latitude 50.70957293888889 and longitude 7.127747519444444. The facility includes a dedicated **Federal Institute for Vocational Education and Training, Library**. An image of the seat (Dienstgebäude des BIBB) is available, dated 2024-01-01.

### Digital Presence and Media
The BIBB maintains a robust digital footprint. Its official website is accessible at `bibb.de` with specific portals for German and English languages.
*   **Social Media:** The institute operates a YouTube channel (ID: UCftrnlcIGb-tf96R1Bhqr4A) which had 315 videos, 4,020 subscribers, and 581,841 views as of November 5, 2023. It also maintains a Mastodon address (`bibb@social.bund.de`), a Bluesky handle (`bibb.de`), a Twitter account (`BIBB_de`), and a LinkedIn ID.
*   **Web Resources:** The institute hosts specific URLs for its FAQ, Impressum, Contact page, Privacy Policy, Press Information, Accessibility Statement, and Official Jobs.
*   **Logo:** The institute's logo has evolved; a version was used until 2021, and a new "currently valid" logo was introduced in 2021.

### Identification and Classifications
The BIBB is cataloged extensively across international library and knowledge systems:
*   **Library & Authority IDs:** GND ID: 2183738-7; Library of Congress Authority ID: n78097270; VIAF ID: 142548472; ISNI: 0000000122544621.
*   **Research Databases:** ROR ID: 0420tmj11; GRID ID: grid.432854.c; GEPRIS Organization ID: 12943; CiNii Research ID: 1140845216504961536.
*   **National Archives:** The institute holds IDs in the German National Library, National Library of Korea (KAB201914681), National Library of Israel (987007599004405171), Bibliothèque nationale de France (11882609k), and others.
*   **Wikidata:** The entity is described as a "state research institution in Germany" with five sitelink languages (Commons, German, Spanish, Korean, Turkish).

### Distinctions from Related Entities
As a research institute, the BIBB is distinct from other types of organizations:
*   **Vs. Universities:** It does not grant degrees or provide undergraduate education.
*   **Vs. Think Tanks:** It focuses on fundamental scientific inquiry rather than solely policy-oriented research.
*   **Vs. Scientific Societies:** It is an operational entity conducting hands-on investigation rather than a membership-based society.

## References

1. [BIBB / Impressum](https://www.bibb.de/de/impressum.php)
2. Virtual International Authority File
3. BnF authorities
4. CiNii Research
5. [Source](https://idw-online.de/de/institution630)
6. [Source](https://www.unesco.de/ueber-uns/ueber-die-duk/wer-wir-sind/mitgliederversammlung)
7. [BIBB / Institutsleitung](https://www.bibb.de/de/464.php)
8. Czech National Authority Database
9. [Source](https://www.service.bund.de/Content/DE/DELeistungen/A/Abkuerzungsverzeichnis-des-Bundes-BMI-BVA.html)
10. GRID Release 2017-04-04
11. Aligned ISNI and Ringgold identifiers for institutions
12. Via P227 lookup with GND value from PM20 folder. 20th Century Press Archives
13. GERiT
14. FactGrid
15. National Library of Israel Names and Subjects Authority File
16. YouTube API