Unlocking the Potential of Migrants in Germany
The German vocational education and training (VET) system is admired around the world
for its ability to prepare young people for skilled employment. In Germany, VET smooths
transitions into work and is closely aligned with labour market demand. This report
focuses on an unprecedented test of the German VET system: how to respond to the significant
increase in migrants who arrived in the country in 2015-16. The study explores both
the opportunities and the challenges presented by migration. Germany has already devoted
significant attention to VET as a mechanism for enabling integration – and for good
reason. Work-based learning assists integration because it demonstrably gives learners
skills that employers want in real-world settings. The report assesses the barriers
faced by learners in their journeys into and through VET, exploring how such challenges
can be addressed. In addition, the study looks at system-wide issues in relation to
how VET provision and integration policy is governed. Lastly, it explores opportunities
for increased flexibility in the German VET system of relevance to all youth at risk
of not succeeding in VET. In responding to migrant needs, German VET can become more
inclusive without reducing quality.
Published on December 17, 2019
In series:OECD Reviews of Vocational Education and Trainingview more titles