GATE – German Apprenticeship Training Exchange

GATE – German Apprenticeship Training Exchange supports vocational schools nationwide that wish to establish transatlantic partnerships with U.S. colleges. The goal of the Joachim Herz Foundation is to strengthen the professional mobility of apprentices, advance the internationalization of vocational schools, and establish sustainable relationships in vocational education between Germany and the USA. Funding is provided to school support associations or school authorities that can already present a written letter of intent with a U.S. partner college and have submitted a preliminarily coordinated project design including a budget. The foundation focuses on long-term partnerships and places special emphasis on professional alignment as well as a well-considered, multi-year plan.

Funding is granted as a subsidy covering up to 50% of eligible expenses, including travel costs as well as preparation and initiation costs. During the startup phase, applicants may apply once per year for up to €5,000, for example, to visit partner schools and finalize cooperation agreements. In the subsequent implementation phase, up to €10,000 is available twice yearly on April 30 and November 30. For already established partnerships, GATE offers additional subsidies of up to €5,000 per year throughout the year. The funding rate and amount provide planning security, while the proven evaluation criteria – long-term orientation and professional alignment – ensure the program’s sustainable impact.