EVENT
proQforum 2026
Attracting Skilled Workers - Thinking Globally - Acting Responsibly
On September 5, 2026, we invite you to LOKSCHUPPEN MARBURG for the proQforum2026 – a networking event filled with information and inspiration regarding international qualifications in the skilled trades.
Together, we want to focus on educational investment, collaborative partnerships, and sustainable perspectives for skilled labor – with a special emphasis on Rwanda and East Africa. Which approaches are sustainable in the long term? How can international qualification be successfully implemented?
Programm overview:
08.30 Meet & Greet Breakfast
10.00 Kick-off Plenary
11.00 Breakout Sessions with Keynote Inputs
13.00 Lunch
14.00 Closing Plenary Session
15.00 Fade-out with Coffee & Tea
Where craftsmanship meets global collaboration.
What happens when craftsmanship, vocational training and international partnerships come together? They spark experiences that challenge perspectives and open new horizons.
We are delighted to welcome inspiring voices from politics, business and civil society, including Michael Olma from the Central Association of German Crafts (ZDH), and Dr. Pascal Bataringaya, President of one of Rwanda’s largest Protestant churches, known for its strong commitment to social development and community engagement.
In the breakout sessions, engaged members of our network will share first-hand stories of training, exchange, and entrepreneurial cooperation between Germany and Africa. From furniture making in Rwanda to skills exchange programmes and industrial development in Ethiopia, real projects and lived experiences come to life.
Together these insights create a space for dialogue, learning, and rethinking global skills development.
Keynote
Germany’s Global Strategy: Vocational Education, Development Cooperation, and International Trade in Transition – Current Trends & Developments
Michael Olma, Head of the Department for International Trade and Development Policy Division for Trade Promotion with the German Confederation of Skilled Crafts (ZDH)
For the past 20 years, it has been a matter close to my professional heart to strengthen the role of skilled trades in international business and development cooperation, thereby enabling companies, organizations, and experts from the crafts and trades sector to contribute to these fields worldwide.
German and english
These experts will speak to you
We will provide partial English translation support during the event.
Global Qualification Program - Backstage: Facts, Fake & Fun
Tim Bluthardt
Anyone curious to take a look behind the scenes of the Global Qualification Program for carpenters at the Rubengera Technical Campus is in the right place.
Expect bold ideas, hard realities, a touch of humor, and a wink - alongside strategic reflections within an ongoing and sometimes controversial debate on skilled labor mobility, brain drain, and the future direction of vocational education in development cooperation.
“It is an absolute privilege for me to support young people along their professional and personal journeys - especially during this important stage of education and training - and to connect individuals, organizations and companies in order to create opportunities together across cultures, mindsets and borders.”
Tim Bluthardt, born in 1975, is married to Katja. They live with their daughter Lotte in Marburg.
A trained carpenter and educator, he has spent the past 15 years working as a consultant in international technical education and economic development including five years living with his family in Rubengera at the education campus.
Throughout his career, Tim has supported a wide range of vocational training and economic development initiatives across Europe, Africa, and Latin America. He is a board member of proQ e.V.
German
Family on tour. Six years living and working abroad - what remains?
Ruprecht & Raphaela Manz
“Work, work, build furniture…” Slightly tweaked, this Swabian motto doesn’t make much sense anymore - or perhaps it does? With Ruprecht’s expert guidance, many young Rwandans in Rubengera have learnt to “work”, to build furniture, and much more besides. But what does a family take away from a stay abroad? What are the challenges? What remains?
“Our heartfelt desire is to inspire young people with a passion for craftsmanship and to facilitate opportunities for professional exchange, including across continents.”
Raphaela and Ruprecht Manz, both born in 1990, live with their four children in Aichtal, near Stuttgart. From 2015 to 2021 they spent time in Rwanda as a family to help shape high quality vocational training there.
This time continues to shape their everyday lives, both: professionally and privately.
German
With expertise and life experience. The MT Woodtec Solutions Ltd. story
Theophile Ndoreyaho & Werner Stubenrauch
Long before the opening of MT Woodtec Solutions Ltd.’s production facilities in July 2025 in Rubengera, Rwanda, an exciting and perhaps even unique story began - a story involving countries, companies, skilled workers and families. And, in particular, two entrepreneurs: Theophile Ndoreyaho and Werner Stubenrauch. Theophile, from Rwanda, had a dream of establishing a furniture production facility in his hometown of Rubengera. And Werner was keen to contribute his professional expertise and personal experience in Rwanda. Werner and Theophile will share personal insights into their fascinating experiences surrounding the origins of this young Rwandan-German company in Rwanda.
Theophile: “I am particularly pleased that our business initiative in Rubengera will help reduce the number of young people looking for work in the coming years.”
Werner: “I am committed to this cause because it has always been close to my heart that young people should be able to fulfil their potential in the workplace.”
Theophile is married to Pascaline and has four children. After working as a teacher at Rubengera TSS, he initially worked for an international architectural firm. He was able to channel his entrepreneurial activities into a sustainable international joint venture through MT Wodtec Solutions.
Werner is married, has four children and six grandchildren. For 20 years, he held a management position at an international company in the automotive supply industry and medical technology sector.
English
“Yes, where else would you find something like that?” Learning for life - global opportunities for young craftspeople
Anton Voronin with Rabe-Innenausbau GmbH & FingerHaus GmbH
In autumn 2025, Sosthene and Beula, two Rwandan carpenters trained at Rubengera TSS, completed a six-week internship at Raabe-Innenausbau and FingerHaus in Central Hesse. How did this come about? What requirements did the interns have to meet? Can young German craftspeople also take part in an exchange? The German African Youth Organisation offers exciting exchange opportunities – and, through the mediation of proQ e.V., has made these fantastic internships possible in collaboration with the German companies. Look forward to fascinating insights and interesting information on the topic of “youth and skilled worker exchanges”.
"It gives me great pleasure to enable young people to gain international professional and life experience – particularly in the skilled trades, where the results of one’s own work are immediately visible."
My name is Anton Voronin. I am 45 years old and I live with my wife and our two sons in the rural town of Wachtberg near Bonn. I work at Senior Expert Service as a project manager in the “Team Works!” programme line of the German African Youth Organization and organise internship placements for young skilled workers between Germany and African countries.
German
Shaping the digital future of furniture making - Woodwork 4.0 training in Ethiopia
Robin Werren
“For around three years now, a booming furniture industry has been developing in Ethiopia, which has grown out of the furniture import sector. Local value creation is increasing, and new jobs are being created. In addition to the machinery that requires investment, there is also a need for expertise in operating the technology, and yet there is not the slightest opportunity to learn this within the country. The industry lacks skilled workers who can achieve the required quality and thus generate profits. Together with the Swiss NGO ‘SELAM College’, a training programme has been developed for the professional operation of CNC machines, so that skilled workers for the local timber industry can be trained” (from proQ Newsletter #2)
Robin & Thomas are delighted to provide a news update on this first kick-starter project from proQ.
What drives me is shaping a sustainable future. In East Africa, there is enormous potential to scale up the use of sustainable materials in furniture and timber construction and to integrate them with the latest technologies. Sharing technical knowledge is one of the most sustainable ways to improve the living and working conditions of young professionals in the region.
Robin Werren, born in 1996, lives in Winterthur (Switzerland). Robin is a trained joiner and holds a Bachelor’s degree in Wood Engineering from the Bern University of Applied Sciences (BFH). After various stays abroad and work placements in the fields of furniture and timber construction, as well as sustainable forest management, Robin spent three months in Ethiopia to support woodworking training at SELAM College in Addis Ababa.
German
Thomas Dalhof
“Through my work in these markets, I have come to recognise a huge gap between basic knowledge and techniques and global standards of quality and efficiency. I am keen to contribute, through the transfer of expertise, to offering young people locally sustainable prospects for the future by fostering the professional development of the timber and furniture sector.”
Thomas, born in 1961, has been working in East Africa for 12 years, selling woodworking machinery and other high-quality equipment. After 30 years in international procurement and experience in many countries, he possesses in-depth market knowledge and a wide network of furniture manufacturers and traders in the region’s timber sector.
German
proQforum 2026
Your Hosts
Dr. Joachim Drechsel
Chairman of the Board, proQ e.V.
Keynote & Interview
With the proQforum, we connect international perspectives and promote global qualification. Together with guests from politics, business, education and civil society from Africa and Europe we share knowledge, experiences, and innovative concepts. Our goal: to inspire, enable cooperation, and shape the future together. We very much look forward to doing this with you.
Keynote & Interview
With the proQforum, we connect international perspectives and promote global qualification. Together with guests from politics, business, education and civil society from Africa and Europe we share knowledge, experiences, and innovative concepts. Our goal: to inspire, enable cooperation, and shape the future together. We very much look forward to doing this with you.
Christina Schäfer
proQforum Preparation Team
Moderation & Organization
Moderation & Organization
Katja Bluthardt
proQforum Preparation Team
Moderation & Organization
Moderation & Organization
Tim Bluthardt
Board of proQ e.V.
proQforum Preparation Team Moderation & Organization
With proQglobal, we are investing worldwide in professional education as a startup with a history - supported by the collaboration of many diverse stakeholders. It is particularly important to me that the proQforum 2026 is not just another date in a packed calendar, but instead creates space for ideas, encounters, and conversations that move us, inspire us and help us move forward together.
proQforum Preparation Team Moderation & Organization
With proQglobal, we are investing worldwide in professional education as a startup with a history - supported by the collaboration of many diverse stakeholders. It is particularly important to me that the proQforum 2026 is not just another date in a packed calendar, but instead creates space for ideas, encounters, and conversations that move us, inspire us and help us move forward together.
proQglobal grows through exchange and thrives on strong partnerships. With the proQforum, we are creating a vital momentum for this and invite you to work together on future-oriented solutions.
We are looking forward to seeing you in Marburg!
Tim Bluthardt, Christina Schäfer, Joachim G. Drechsel
Your proQforum Organizing Team
Together with you, we want to create perspectives – and actively shape the future of international qualification.