OECD Reviews of Vocational Education and Training A Skills beyond School Review of Germany

This report examines vocational education and training programs in Germany including how they are changing, how they are funded, how they are linked to academic and university programmes and how employers and unions can be engaged. [Publisher website] Strengths, challenges and recommendations -Strengths -Challenges and recommendations Chapter 1. Introduction and initial assessment -The policy review of Germany and its place in the wider OECD study -The structure of the report -A snapshot of Germany's postsecondary vocational education and training system -Comparing Germany with other countries: Key indicators -Previous OECD analysis and recommendations bearing on postsecondary VET in Germany -Appreciation of the German approach to postsecondary VET - key strengths -Challenges -References Chapter 2. Transition to academic higher education -Challenges: Increasing competition and meeting strong demand for transition -Recommendation: Facilitating credit transfer -Supporting arguments: Positive economic payoffs and international examples -References Chapter 3. Better information on preparatory courses for examinations -Challenges: Lack of transparency and varying course quality -Recommendation: Information provision and industry self-regulation -Supporting arguments: Better informed student choice and assuring minimum standards -References Chapter 4. Quality of examinations -Challenges: Exam quality and occupational licensing -Recommendation: Framework regulation and clear standards for examinations -Supporting arguments: Clear standards, drawing on international experience -References Chapter 5. Teachers and trainers in Fachschulen -Challenges: Flexibility and updating skills -Recommendation: More part-timers and better skills updating -Supporting arguments: Better response to industry needs -References Chapter 6. Workplace training at Fachschulen -Challenges: Making full use of workplace training in support of learning goals -Recommendation: Mandatory internships -Supporting arguments: Higher training quality and ample support for implementation -References Chapter 7. Fachschule provision and the labour market -Challenges: Labour market imbalances and diverse governance -Recommendation: Systematic use of evidence and enhanced flexibility -Supporting arguments: Better recognition of mismatch and greater capacity to respond -References