At Technische Universität Berlin, Dr. Lee was received by Prof. Dr. Angela Ittel, Vice President for International Affairs and Teacher Training, and she also met with two professors from the university’s Institute for Vocational Education and Work Studies. At Humboldt Universität Berlin, Dr. Lee met with Martin Mahn, the managing director of Humboldt-Innovation which describes itself as: “the dedicated knowledge and technology transfer office of the Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin ... a 100% subsidiary enterprise of the university” that “acts as a comprehensive interface between university and industry – between science and business”.

Dr. Lee was particularly impressed by the very practical role and function of two institutions that she visited. The first was the Federal Institute for Vocational Education and Training. As its website states, it “is recognized as a center of excellence for vocational research and for the progressive development of vocational education and training (VET).” The Institute “works to identify future challenges for VET, stimulate innovation in national and international vocational systems, and develop new practice-oriented solutions for… vocational education and training.”

The second institution that left a deep impression with its practical orientation was the Association of German Chambers of Commerce and Industry (Deutscher Industrie- und Handelskammertag). As its website explains, “the Chambers of Commerce and Industry support and advise apprentices and employees with all questions relating to education and training. They mediate in the case of problems, determine the suitability of businesses and trainers, register the training contracts, organize examinations and issue certificates.” These two institutions provided examples to consider to help Taiwan develop its own “most successful model for the integration of young people into the employment market.”