Education & Training

The Dual System

Historical Development of Vocational Training in Germany

The historical form of vocational training was a master craftsman teaching an apprentice his craft. A document referring to apprenticeship training within the wood turners guild in Cologne dates as far back as 1182. The Middle Ages were the golden age for the apprentice learning from his 'master' until he became a journeyman, and then finally also a master craftsman. The training was controlled by the guilds which each had their own regulations. These regulations set out the age of admission (11-17 years old), the training duration (about 4 ears), the trial period (2-4 weeks), the examination and the releasing of the apprentice into the trade.

The Dual System

Educational and vocational training in Germany is free. The education system provides general education together with professional or skilled occupational training.  It is called a ‘Dual System' because it combines education in a vocational school with practical and hands on training within an enterprise.  The Dual System also provides a socialisation process. Individuals gain the skills and knowledge needed for employment as well as developing the people skills and the work ethic needed for their future success in the workplace.

On-the-job vocational training is more costly to provide than the vocational education, and is borne entirely by industry, which spends billions of euros annually on apprenticeship training programs.  Herein lies the uniqueness of the German system: government and industry have a shared obligation to support the development of the workforce. The head of personnel at Volkswagen articulated this philosophy when he said, “Training costs money; not to train costs a great deal more money.”  This public value of investing in the future workforce is the cornerstone of the German workforce system.