Innovative VET: From a Supply Project to an Innovation Project

At the end of the school years, a defining issue in labor and education administrations is the transition from school to work. The findings of research identify the dual VET system as a key variable for the innovation and competitiveness of companies and national economies. Comparing the dual VET systems of Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, it is striking that only Switzerland has a dual VET system that is highly attractive for both school leavers and companies. In Germany, less favorable developments stand out. The pedagogical roots of participation-, design-, and process-oriented VET lie in the insight of integrating dual VET into the education system and formulating an educational mandate that links vocational and general education. Six good reasons for modernizing dual VET and integrating it into the education system: