Sekretariat der Kultusministerkonferenz

The Conference of Ministers of Education (KMK) is a central coordinating body of the ministers responsible for education, upbringing, universities, research, and cultural affairs from the federal states in the Federal Republic of Germany. Since its founding in 1948, the states have been working together in a self-coordinating manner to set common goals and standards in the education sector.

• Agreement and Recognition of Certificates and Degrees: The KMK ensures the uniformity and comparability of certificates and degrees to guarantee mutual recognition between the states.
• Quality Standards: The KMK works to ensure quality standards in schools, vocational education, and universities to guarantee high educational quality.
• Cooperation and Networking: The KMK promotes cooperation between institutions of education, science, and culture, both nationally and internationally.
• International Tasks: The Sekretariat der Kultusministerkonferenz is responsible for foreign school affairs, international exchange in the school sector, and cooperation with international bodies such as the EU, UNESCO, or OECD.

The main mission of the KMK is to secure the highest possible level of mobility for learners, students, teachers, and researchers through consensus and cooperation, and to contribute to the equivalence of living conditions throughout Germany. The KMK represents and promotes the common interests of the states in the field of culture.

• Mobility and Equivalence: The KMK strives to increase mobility within Germany and to create equivalent living conditions in all states.
• Quality and Cooperation: By ensuring quality standards and promoting cooperation between educational institutions, educational quality is enhanced.

• Digitalization in Education: The KMK has developed a strategy for education in the digital world, aimed at preparing students for self-determined participation in a digitally shaped society. This includes acquiring basic competencies for learning in a digital culture and integrating digital media and tools into teaching[2].
• International Cooperation: The KMK is engaged in international bodies and promotes exchange and collaboration with other countries to benefit from international developments and research results.
• Quality Assurance: Through continuous review and further development of national educational standards and curricular structures, the KMK ensures the quality of education in Germany.

The Sekretariat der Kultusministerkonferenz, with locations in Berlin and Bonn, is led by the Secretary General. It prepares plenary, committee, and commission meetings and is responsible for evaluating and implementing the results of consultations. The expenses of the secretariat are borne by all 16 states according to the Königssteiner key[3].

The Conference of Ministers of Education is a central element of German education policy, contributing to shaping education in Germany in a future-oriented and sustainable manner through cooperation, quality assurance, and innovative strategies.

• 1 - https://www.begabungslotse.de/anbieter/kmk-sekretariat-staendigen-konferenz-kultusminister-laender-bundesrepublik-deutschland-standort-berlin
• 2 - https://www.kmk.org/fileadmin/veroeffentlichungen_beschluesse/2021/2021_12_09-Lehren-und-Lernen-Digi.pdf
• 3 - https://www.kmk.org/kmk/sekretariat.html
• 4 - https://www.pedocs.de/volltexte/2011/3735/pdf/Fingerle_2001_Positionen_der_Kultusministerkonferenz_D_A.pdf
• 5 - https://www.xing.com/pages/sekretariatderkultusministerkonferenz/about_us