“Making schools practical”: Practice firms and their function in the full‐time vocational school system in Germany

Abstract

Purpose

To provide information and insight into the potential of reforms in full‐time vocational education and training (VET) (practice firms in vocational colleges) in contrast with apprenticeships against the background of training market frictions in Germany.

Design/methodology/approach

Structural information on the German VET system; empirical study (2006) within a research project to illustrate the didactical and social benefits of practice firms.

Findings

Underlines that vocational colleges and practice firms within them are part of a “preparatory” system which predominantly serves further education needs and the follow‐up intention to undertake an apprenticeship; confirms preceding research which put them in line with the “typical” full‐time VET system.

Research implications/limitations

Limitations are due to the focus on one type of full‐time VET and the specific conditions in the federal state of Baden‐Württemberg.

Practical implications

Provides useful information to understand the nature of VET in a given country; insight into the limitations of full‐time VET can help teachers to rethink co‐operation with companies in general.

Originality/value

Useful contribution to rethinking VET policy and to understanding limitations in the wake of an implementation of new forms of vocational learning against the background of culturally‐rooted tradtions.

Citation

Deissinger, T. (2007), "“Making schools practical”: Practice firms and their function in the full‐time vocational school system in Germany", Education + Training, Vol. 49 No. 5, pp. 364-379. https://doi.org/10.1108/00400910710762931