Fachbildung

Fachbildung denotes the disciplinary content and professional knowledge that forms the core of a specific occupation or subject area within German-speaking education and training systems. It encompasses fundamental concepts, theories, procedures, standards, and practical competences that practitioners must master, as distinct from general education or pedagogical methods.

In vocational education and training (VET), Fachbildung is typically contrasted with Allgemeinbildung (general education) and with Fachdidaktik, the latter addressing teaching methods for the subject. Fachbildung is guided by occupational standards and qualification profiles and is delivered by subject specialists in both school-based and company-based training settings. The aim is to provide the technical and theoretical foundation needed for professional practice.

In teacher education contexts, the term can refer to the subject-specific content that future teachers study as Fachwissen or Fachwissenschaft, forming the foundation of a discipline. Fachdidaktik then focuses on how to teach that content, including curriculum design, assessment, and instructional strategies. The separation between Fachbildung and Fachdidaktik reflects distinct goals: knowledge of the subject and its pedagogical application.

Content areas of Fachbildung include theory, methods, tools, standards, safety regulations, and quality criteria particular to the occupation. Curricula align with national or regional qualification frameworks and often incorporate practical internships and simulations to ensure demonstrable competence.

Variations exist across countries and professions. In Germany, BBiG-based programs emphasize Fachbildung as the vocational core, while some contexts use the term more broadly to denote discipline-specific study within higher education. Digitalization and international convergence continue to shape updates to Fachbildung curricula.