scholarly journals The German system of vocational education and training: challenges of gender, academisation and the integration of low-achieving youth

2020 ◽  
Vol 26 (1) ◽  
pp. 57-71
Author(s):  
Simone R Haasler
Keyword(s):  
Young People ◽  
Vocational Education ◽  
Labour Market ◽  
Tertiary Education ◽  
Education And Training ◽  
Dual System ◽  
Vocational Education And Training ◽  
Apprenticeship Training ◽  
School Based ◽  
And Training

In Germany, the dual system of apprenticeship training has traditionally been very strong. The dominant position of the dual system, however, is being challenged by other training routes gaining significance, particularly tertiary education. This article investigates the extent to which this is leading to a restructuring of the dual system. Developments in school-based vocational programmes, trends of academisation and challenges deriving from qualifying low achievers are discussed. The growing significance of school-based programmes is linked to the gender impact of the vocational education and training (VET) system and the gender segmentation of the German labour market, while academisation reflects labour market demands for high skills. With dual study programmes and three and a half-year dual training, the dual system seeks to provide attractive training options for highly skilled young people. This, however, has made access to fully-qualifying vocational programmes very difficult for low-achieving young people, including migrants and refugees, thereby challenging the integration function of the German VET system.

scholarly journals Challenges and Opportunities for Technical and Vocational Education and Training in the local communities: Education and Labour Market for Young People

2019 ◽  
Vol 7 (3) ◽  
pp. 1 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mei-ling Lin
Keyword(s):  
Young People ◽  
Vocational Education ◽  
Labour Market ◽  
Workforce Development ◽  
Social Cohesion ◽  
Global Economy ◽  
Knowledge Society ◽  
Education And Training ◽  
Vocational Education And Training ◽  
And Training

A country’s competitiveness in the global economy depends on its ability to develop a knowledge-based economy. EU has emphasized the importance of education and training systems for the knowledge society. The paper aims to contribute to the debate on vocational education, and specifically to the literatures on varieties of workforce development, human capital, labour market and social cohesion. Findings reveal that education is considered vital for the formation of a skilled and knowledge-able pool of workers. Investments in vocational and technical skills can be an important factor in contributing to economic development. Nevertheless, social cohesion depends on the way in which education and the labour market are linked. The contribution of this paper is to assess the policy strategies dealing with local youngsters’ education, labour market demands and social cohesion with respect to their potential of enabling young people to participate in working life and society. It also offers a contribution to the growing field of political economy of the link between labour market and social cohesion, the variation and dynamics of education systems, and globalisation.

The rhetoric of Europeanisation of dual vocational education and training in Spain

2020 ◽  
Vol 26 (1) ◽  
pp. 73-90 ◽  
Author(s):  
Antonio Martín Artiles ◽  
Andreu Lope ◽  
Daniel Barrientos ◽  
Benjamí Moles ◽  
Pilar Carrasquer
Keyword(s):  
Young People ◽  
Vocational Education ◽  
Education And Training ◽  
School To Work ◽  
Vocational Education And Training ◽  
School To Work Transition ◽  
School Based ◽  
Work Transition ◽  
German Model ◽  
And Training

This article has two objectives: to analyse the implementation of dual vocational education and training (VET) in Spain and to study the school-to-work transition of young people who complete dual VET. The article draws on a study that was based on 43 interviews, a discussion group and document analysis. The results show that dual VET has been implemented through a school-based model, as opposed to the firm-based ‘German’ model. Participants may be employed on the basis of training contracts or internships. Whichever approach was taken, we found that young people who have completed dual VET enjoy a rapid school-to-work transition.

Technical and vocational education and training and marginalised youths in post-conflict Sierra Leone: Trainees’ experiences and capacity to aspire

2018 ◽  
Vol 13 (4) ◽  
pp. 534-550
Author(s):  
Mitsuko Matsumoto
Keyword(s):  
Young People ◽  
Vocational Education ◽  
Sierra Leone ◽  
Education And Training ◽  
Capabilities Approach ◽  
Vocational Education And Training ◽  
Post Conflict ◽  
Technical And Vocational Education ◽  
And Training ◽  
Capacity To Aspire

The article aims to build on current understandings of the experiences and aspirations of technical and vocational education and training (TVET) trainees in conflict-affected countries, focussing on the case study of Sierra Leone. Employing the capabilities approach pioneered by Amartya Sen, it casts light on the different benefits beyond employability which young people acquire through TVET. This includes the development of their ‘capacity to aspire’. At the same time, the article shows the poor conditions and social stigma that continue to surround TVET and the profession of ‘skilled man’ in the country of Sierra Leone. By doing so, the article shows the potential of capabilities approach and the concept of ‘capacity to aspire’ to more systematically look at the wider benefits of TVET to young people. It also reveals the simplistic nature of the international community’s expectations with regards to TVET’s role in post-conflict societies.

Economic competencies and situation-specific commercial competencies: Reflections on conceptualization and measurement

2016 ◽  
Vol 15 (3) ◽  
pp. 162-182 ◽  
Author(s):  
Susan Seeber
Keyword(s):  
Young Adults ◽  
Vocational Education ◽  
Labour Market ◽  
Supply And Demand ◽  
Youth Unemployment ◽  
Critical Issue ◽  
Education And Training ◽  
Private Life ◽  
Vocational Education And Training ◽  
And Training

From a societal perspective, vocational education and training must enable young adults to meet the challenges of the labour market in a globalized world, reduce the mismatch of supply and demand of qualifications (e.g. youth unemployment leading to disadvantages for individuals, society and national economies) and improve social cohesion. From an individual perspective, vocational education and training should develop young adults’ vocational competencies, support their individual personality development and their integration into the labour market and society, help secure their livelihood and enable them to lead self-determined lives as citizens. Therefore, the assessment of competencies obtained in vocational education and training programmes has emerged as a critical issue to develop workforces and the capacity for life-long learning and to foster civic participation as a responsible citizen. This article provides some insights into the modelling and measurement of competencies in vocational education and training, where occupational and cross-occupational competencies are necessary to cope with the requirements of workplaces, as a responsible citizen and in private life. In this article, cross-occupational economic competencies and occupation-specific commercial competencies in the area of business and administration are discussed. Both constructs are based on economic theories, concepts and central terms; nevertheless, the situation-specific context and requirements may vary substantially. Thus, different approaches to define and measure both constructs seem to be necessary.

‘What can I already do well today?’ Competence development in innovative learning cultures

2019 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Antje Barabasch ◽  
Dominic Caldart ◽  
Anna Keller
Keyword(s):  
Vocational Education ◽  
Education And Training ◽  
Vocational Education And Training ◽  
Substantial Impact ◽  
Autonomous Action ◽  
Apprenticeship Training ◽  
Learning Cultures ◽  
Values And Beliefs ◽  
Innovative Learning ◽  
And Training

Digitalisation and a rapidly changing labour market introduce new demands on competence and these demands reinforce the renewal of Swiss apprenticeship training in businesses. The telecommunication industry is a representative example of the new challenges that vocational education and training faces. This article highlights some new approaches and pathways to apprenticeships. It shows that not only structural conditions need to be adjusted, but also the learning culture of the community of practice, which includes the shared attitudes, values and beliefs of all the actors involved in vocational education and training. As this article indicates, comprehensive changes in the apprenticeships at the enterprise studied have had a substantial impact on the development of competences such as creativity, reflection, autonomous action and initiative-taking.

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