The school program

The ZDS is the training center of the German confectionery industry. It is organized by the association “Zentralfachschule der Deutschen Süßwarenwirtschaft e.V.”. worn. In this way, the members of the association demonstrate their commitment to training and further education.

The vocational college as a state-recognized alternative school – includes the industrial specialist classes of the dual training system and the technical college for technology. Additional courses in preparation for Chamber of Industry and Commerce qualifications supplement the ZDS school-based training and further education program, which is part of the education offered by the state of NRW.

By closely integrating theory and practice, the ZDS develops the professional, social and personal skills of pupils and students according to their previous education and individual requirements. They accompany the technical and vocational school teachers on their journey as advisors, mediators, promoters and guides.

After completing the respective training course, pupils, students and ZDS participants are able to meet the complex requirements of the various jobs in the confectionery and food industry in a professional, responsible and sustainable manner. The aim of education and training is to prepare students for the primary labor market and to integrate students and course participants into it. By learning together, all learners develop and deepen important social skills such as mutual respect and consideration, independence and communication skills.

Customer orientation

As a school, ZDS is committed to meeting the requirements of its customers. It focuses its attention on local pupils and students, as well as on industrial companies in the food and confectionery sectors in particular. Our customers also include public institutions such as education authorities, chambers of industry and commerce, employment agencies and potential course participants, such as people from the food industry who are interested in further training, retrainees and people currently looking for work in the food industry. The educational activities of the ZDS are therefore always geared towards the requirements of the labor market.

Didactic concept

• At the ZDS, the current state of knowledge of the food and confectionery industry, as described in the corresponding framework curricula, is taught through action-oriented learning. The learning content is regularly evaluated and updated in order to keep pace with rapid technological progress.
• With the help of modern technical equipment, the school creates industrial application situations. The focus here is on appropriate machine equipment and modern digital means of communication.
• The ZDS supports the professional success of its graduates through a strong focus on the industrial environment. To this end, industrial projects, excursions to industrial companies and visits to trade fairs are carried out as part of the training.
• One aim of the ZDS’s educational work is to promote the permeability of educational courses from initial and continuing vocational training through to higher education.
• Participants’ communication and social skills as well as independent learning are strengthened through teamwork, method training and presentations.
• The vocational college is committed to the principle of “support and challenge” and treats participants with fairness and respect at all times.
• The ZDS attaches particular importance to providing comprehensive advice to participants. Starting with the first contact during the training and further education, as well as after the end of the course, the school staff are available to provide individual support to participants. In addition, the ZDS uses its contacts with industrial companies and service providers to promote the employment of job-seeking course participants.

Efficient organization

• All ZDS employees involved in supporting pupils and students see themselves as a team. Regular team meetings ensure that all employees have up-to-date, comprehensive information. In addition, the school authorities and the school management are in regular contact.
• Participants are trained by qualified, experienced and committed teaching staff as well as by specialists and managers as external lecturers. By participating in further training events and on examination boards, teachers ensure that their knowledge is up to date in terms of subject-specific, practical and didactic aspects.
• The school processes are described in a quality management system and are subject to an internal review at fixed intervals. The opinion of the participants is important to the ZDS for the continuous improvement of school services. This feedback, as well as the results of internal reviews, is used to optimize training content, processes and resources.

The special position of the ZDS, as the only technical college for confectionery technology in Germany, requires a lively dialog with the ZDS partners in the training process, which is conducted by the school authorities, the school management and the lecturers.

The ZDS presents itself primarily through an informative, up-to-date website, as well as at trade fairs, in the relevant trade media and through ZDS membership of the Federal Association of the German Confectionery Industry.