Initiatives and Strategies to Secure Training Opportunities in the German Vocational Education and Training System

Datos Bibliográficos

ID19901807
AutoresThomas Deißinger (University of Konstanz), Silke Hellwig (University of Konstanz)
Año2004
Volumen10
Número2
Páginas160-174
Fecha de publicación2004-11-01
Peer ReviewedSí
Open AccessSí
TipoARTICLE
RevistaJournal of Adult and Continuing Education (JOURNAL)
Identificadores de la revistaISSN: 1477-9714 • E-ISSN: 1479-7194
EditorialSAGE Publications (PUBLISHER • US)
DOI10.7227/jace.10.2.6
OpenAlexW2330563434
IdiomaEN
Citas recibidas4
Referencias citadas11

In Germany, the vocational education and training system has traditionally been regarded as stable and efficient and also well esteemed because it produces highly valued and nationally recognised vocational qualifications. The so-called Dual System still attracts the majority of school-leavers with non-academic aspirations or talents. However, in the past few years the Dual System has faced severe problems, and critics argue that it is in a structural crisis owing to failing operating mechanisms. Furthermore, economic factors have contributed to a critical situation in the training market, with a serious lack of training opportunities. On the other hand, the vocational full-time schools as the second major sub-system of vocational education and training in Germany, though clearly in the shadow of the Dual System, provide a mix of opportunities to achieve general or vocational qualifications. Against this background, vocational training policy and research alike have identified the need for reforms and a more or less substantial change of the system. Currently, four strategies are under discussion and have already been partly undertaken to provide a more reliable supply of training opportunities and to enhance the quality of vocational courses and programmes. Although one focus lies on bridging the gap between the two subs-systems, the nature of the reform debate at least partly shows parallels to reforms in anglophone countries, which seems remarkable as the system in Germany has always been reluctant to reform and less flexible and open compared to other countries

Apprenticeship · Business · Economic growth · Economics · German · Higher education · Operations management · Parallels · Pedagogy · Political science · Public relations · Sociology · Training (meteorology) · Training System · Vocational education · Labor Movements and Unions · Social Policy and Reform Studies · Sociology and Education Studies