Background and functioning of Austrian dual VET – apprenticeship training

Thomas MayrNovember 2014

proportion of students in VET at Sec II Austria: 76,8%EU-average: 52,8%

completion rate of Sec II Austria: 87,4%EU-average: 81,1%

early school leavers Austria: 7,3%EU-average: 11,9%

tertiary attainment Austria: 23,5%EU-average: 32,3%

youth unemployment Austria: 9.2%EU-average: 23,5%

labour productivity Austria: 115EU: 100

Sources: Eurostat, OECD; latest figures (2009-2014)

Some statistics: education and economic indicators

Austria’s VET system

Dual VET - Apprenticeship training (around 40% of 16+ year-olds)• training enterprise (80% of time) and part-time vocational school (20% of time)• demand led system: apprenticeship contract between enterprise and apprentice• training is based on two regulations (ordinances): training company and school • 200+ apprenticeships (“professions”) in practically all branches of the economy with a 2-4

years training period depending on the profession• basis for “Higher VET”: “Meister” and other professional qualifications (ISCED 5B) and

other VET programmes (ISCED 4) as well as a range of “non-formal” programmes Demand driven, “market logic”

Full time school based VET (around 40% of 16+ year-olds)• combination of general and vocational education• different types and duration• Double qualification in VET-colleges: VET-diploma and university access Supply driven, “entitlement logic”

Austria’s VET system

• “Training guarantee” by AMS (Austrian Public Employment Service)• support in finding an apprenticeship in a company• workshop based programmes in the conceptual framework of dual

apprenticeship training (Überbetriebliche Berufsausbildung ÜBA)

Elementary occupations

clerks, skilled workers, Crafts and trades workersetc.

technicians andassociate professionals

professionals

managers

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%Proportion apprenticeship graduates27,5%

37,3%

52,6%

31,8%

7,3%

Austria‘s occupation structure (ISCO) and the share of apprenticeship graduates within each group

Source: Statistik Austria, Mikrozensus 2013, Arbeitskrafterhebung, ibw

Why do companies train?

Business case: return on investment

Catalyst for moving beyond informal arrangements: institutions and governance structure, support to companies

The Austrian approach:

• The profiles of the different apprenticeship trades are negotiated between the social partners in the Federal Advisory Board

• Administration and competent authority: Economic Chambers act as intermediate bodies between companies and the ministry of economics

• Accompanying support measures: financial incentives, practical training guidelines, selection tools and services for recruitment, trainer academies and networks, services to organise international mobility etc.

• Part-time vocational school: provided and financed publicly

Research &Development institute

Research & Development institute

Support tools for recruitment

Online vacancy platform

Economic Chamber and PES

Apprenticeship training and its institutions

Accreditation as training company

Apprenticeship office at local Economic Chamber

Economics Ministry

CVET Providers of Chambers

Trainer qualification

Training guidelines

Organisation of training alliances

Economic Chamber

Before the apprenticeship Recruitment TrainingBefore the apprenticeship TrainingRecruitment

private and public institutes

International Young Workers Exchange

Mobility: work placements abroad

Trainer academies and networks

Financial incentives

National competitions, Euro / World Skills

Support/study material for examiners and apprentices

Organisation of exam and awarding of qualification

Excellency Award „Fit for future“

Research & Development institute

Economics Ministry

CVET Provider of Chambers

Apprenticeship office at local Economic Chamber

Training for examiners

Exam / After the apprenticeship

Vocational School

asignments and questions for exam

Before the apprenticeship

training

Career guidance: centers and online tools

Research &Development institute

Conclusions on Austria

• Austria has a strong VET model at secondary level, notably through apprenticeship training

• but “higher VET” is fragmented and is not understood as tertiary education in the national context

• challenge: OECD signals and EU-2020 benchmark on higher education

• broader understanding of “high-level qualifications” needed: more than academic higher education!

Conclusions on principles

• a profession is more than a job

• VET needs to be an integral part of the education system

• progression routes are needed from VET to HE and - even more important - within VET

• training must be attractive for companies. The “business case” logic must be an accepted starting point for policy making

• institutions and governance structures are needed that allow “co-ownership” at system level, including quality assurance

ibw Austria - Research & Development in VETRainergasse 38, 1050 Wien

+43 1 5451671 0www.ibw.atinfo@ibw.at