Can Europe Learn from the Swiss VET System? Discussion on Strengths and Weaknesses of the Dual System

Chairs:
Barbara Stalder, Ministry of Education, Switzerland
Ludger Deitmer, Convenor VETNET, Bremen

Contributors:
Prof. Em. Rolf Dubs, University of St Gallen, Switzerland
Rainer Bremer, ITB, University of Bremen
Annie Bouder, CEREQ, Marseille

Lately, the dual system of vocational education and training has been criticised as being too rigid and outdated, failing to achieve a sufficient level of innovation. Critical voices point to aspects such as the emphasis on practical training at the cost of general education, the conflict between generalisation and specialisation, the decline of the proficiency level of apprentices, the overly focus on the demand-side of the economy and the disequilibrium in the apprenticeship market or the unsatisfactory integration of youth with disadvantaged backgrounds.

Examining some of these criticisms and referring to mainly school-based systems, Prof. em. Rolf Dubs, University of St. Gallen, who has recently published a critical review of the Swiss dual system, will give the keynote speech to launch the debate.