ABSTRACT

In the late nineties, the German Bertelsmann-Stiftung launched a project on the question witch vocational training system was presumably 'the best VET-system in the world'. In the final report the Danish system was awarded this title (Bertelsmann-Stiftung 1999, 2000). This was the point of departure for a number of German federal member states (Lander) from which they started a program of revision of vocational schools. Following the Danish example the schools shall be given a greater autonomy in exchange to an enlarged responsibility.

The questions which arise from these changes are:

1. To what extend do the German states follow the Danish example?
2. To what extend is it difficult to implement features of a system that has been developed in a different cultural context (In Germany the schooling system does conceptually go back to Humboldt 1809; in Denmark the realisation of the ideas of Grundtvig 1847 seem to be perfected by the latest reforms)?
3. Have there been any difficulties in realising the reforms under the given status of law in Germany?
4. In which way do German authorities avoid the problems which have shown up in the Danish example?

In my paper, these aspects shall be investigated with an emphasis on the northernmost state of Schleswig-Holstein. Experiences form other Lander shall be reported in addition to this whenever necessary. The study of achievements and failures in the process of implementation can illuminate how processes of reciprocal learning within Europe can be developed.

Literature:

• Bertelsmann-Stiftung (Hg.) (1999/ 2000): Berufliche Bildung der Zukunft. Carl-Bertelsmann-Preis 1999 (Bd. 1: Ergebnisse der Recherche). Gütersloh: 1999, (Bd. 2: Dokumentation zu Symposium und Festakt). Gütersloh: 2000.
• Grundtvig, N. F.S. (1847/ 1927): Glückwunsch an Dänemark. Etwas über die dänische Narrheit und die dänische Hochschule. In: ders.: Schriften zur Volkserziehung und Volkheit. Erster Band: Die Volkshochschule. Jena: Diedrichs, S. 141-199.
• Humboldt, W. v. (1809/ 1920): Unmassgebliche Gedanken über den Plan zur Einrichtung des Litthauischen Stadschulwesens, in: ders., Wilhelm von Humboldts Werke. Dreizehnter Band. Berlin: Behr, S. 276-283.