Sustaining the Quality Development of German Vocational Education and Training in the Age of Digitalization: Challenges and Strategies

Abstract

The digital transformation of the working world has been bringing profound impacts on German vocational education and training (VET). This study analyzes the challenges that German VET is experiencing in the context of digitalization as well as the strategies to overcome these challenges. Based on the concept of sustainable cooperation between vocational schools and companies, this study proposed a theoretical framework for preserving the sustainability of VET in the digital era from three dimensions: the capability of industrial service, attractiveness, and adaptability. Meanwhile, through the content analysis method applied to the study of official research and statistical reports, policy documents, journal articles, etc., three key challenges for German VET are found: the insufficient service capacity of German VET for industrial digitalization, the decreasing attractiveness of VET, and the low level of application of digital competencies. German federal agencies have developed multiple strategies in response, including (1) strengthening the capability of training digital talents through the modernization of the training regulations and framework curricula in 2021; (2) reshaping VET as a more promising track for individuals via information support and expanding development pathways; (3) enhancing the willingness to participate in and the capacity to provide vocational training of companies through financial measures; (4) promoting the digital transformation of VET through the financial support of projects and development of practical assistance. © 2023 by the authors.

Keywords

Author Keywords

Vocational education Digitalization Attractiveness digital transformation of VET the capacity of industrial service

Index Keywords

sustainability training Vocational education educational development Germany Modernization digitization

Author Affiliations

Institute for Vocational Education, Universität Rostock, Rostock, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany

Institute of Vocational Education, Tongji University, Shanghai, China, Faculty of Social Sciences, Universität Bamberg, Bamberg, Bayern, Germany

Graduate School of Education, Beijing Foreign Studies University, Beijing, Beijing, China

School of Education, Hainan Normal University, Haikou, Hainan, China

Funding & Acknowledgements

Grant: CCA210254

Funding text 1: Based on the theory of skill-biased technological change, digitalization has caused employment to grow faster in both low-skill and high-skill occupations and to decline in middle-skill occupations []. This was supported by the World Economic Forum poll results []. Hirsch-Kreinsen further stressed the need for new qualifications as well as the upgrading of existing qualifications given the background of digitalization []. Meanwhile, a coexistence of highly digitalized and highly traditional working environments is foreseeable in all economic sectors and leads to a differentiation of qualification requirements as well []. These changes shed light on qualifications polarization []. According to a survey by the Fraunhofer Institute, 80% of German companies surveyed stated that further vocational training and reskilling were needed for future work []. The new hybrid skills and competencies required by new work include using digital technologies and combining them with human dimensions [].; Funding text 2: This research was supported by the Chinese National Educational Science 14th Five-year-plan Project: Study on the Blended Teaching Model with the Integration of Theory and Practice for Vocational Schools (grant no. CCA210254).

European Social Fund, ESF

Funding text 1: Based on the theory of skill-biased technological change, digitalization has caused employment to grow faster in both low-skill and high-skill occupations and to decline in middle-skill occupations []. This was supported by the World Economic Forum poll results []. Hirsch-Kreinsen further stressed the need for new qualifications as well as the upgrading of existing qualifications given the background of digitalization []. Meanwhile, a coexistence of highly digitalized and highly traditional working environments is foreseeable in all economic sectors and leads to a differentiation of qualification requirements as well []. These changes shed light on qualifications polarization []. According to a survey by the Fraunhofer Institute, 80% of German companies surveyed stated that further vocational training and reskilling were needed for future work []. The new hybrid skills and competencies required by new work include using digital technologies and combining them with human dimensions [].; Funding text 2: This research was supported by the Chinese National Educational Science 14th Five-year-plan Project: Study on the Blended Teaching Model with the Integration of Theory and Practice for Vocational Schools (grant no. CCA210254).

Bundesministerium für Wirtschaft und Energie, BMWi

Funding text 1: Based on the theory of skill-biased technological change, digitalization has caused employment to grow faster in both low-skill and high-skill occupations and to decline in middle-skill occupations []. This was supported by the World Economic Forum poll results []. Hirsch-Kreinsen further stressed the need for new qualifications as well as the upgrading of existing qualifications given the background of digitalization []. Meanwhile, a coexistence of highly digitalized and highly traditional working environments is foreseeable in all economic sectors and leads to a differentiation of qualification requirements as well []. These changes shed light on qualifications polarization []. According to a survey by the Fraunhofer Institute, 80% of German companies surveyed stated that further vocational training and reskilling were needed for future work []. The new hybrid skills and competencies required by new work include using digital technologies and combining them with human dimensions [].; Funding text 2: This research was supported by the Chinese National Educational Science 14th Five-year-plan Project: Study on the Blended Teaching Model with the Integration of Theory and Practice for Vocational Schools (grant no. CCA210254).

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Sustaining the Quality Development of German Vocational Education and Training in the Age of Digitalization: Challenges and Strategies

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