An educational alliance approach for further academic education concepts

Germany has an outstanding role and position in the world markets - especially in the fields of engineering or natural sciences. Within the process of globalization and the shrinkage of simpler production processes and main fields of work in the last decades, the knowledge factor became more and more important. A shortage of professionals especially in the STEM-subjects caused by the demographic change, academization of the world of work or extension of working time endanger the country (see Wolter 2011, Stock 2012). One out of a large number of measures by the German Government to counteract the loss of competency and know-how is the BMBF-founded Project MINT-Online. The aim of this project is to enable four German universities, further research organizations, Fraunhofer Institutes and th e Fraunhofer Academy to (re-)develop new and existing extra-occupational courses in the STEM-subjects. Therefore, in a first phase, nine programs will be (re-) created. An educational alliance approach for further academic education concepts seems to be the right way, to enable a successful realization of the programs in the market.