Dual Education: Vocational Training at work
23 July 2015
Dual Training is a hot topic right now. A cornerstone of the education system in Germany, it is a unique partnership between employers, students and governments to provide skills based training that better ensure future employment.
It’s learning by doing - combining vocational training in the classroom with employer-based training, in a job that complements the course of study. Similar to an apprenticeship scheme, this has many advantages for both student and employer. By working closely with the vocational school, employers and unions can be confident that students are being taught in subjects that are needed in the marketplace; it enables the student to gain valuable work experience and real knowledge of their chosen industry, while they are studying, which in turn makes them more attractive to future employers.
It’s a combination that works. By the time a student has completed their dual-education training, typically 2 -3 years, combining theoretical knowledge with hands-on experience they are then well placed when they are searching for a job following graduation.
Here at Doherty Hungary Kft we have one student currently on a dual training scheme. Miklós Hódi started at Kecskemet College of Mechanical Engineering and Automation (GAMF) last summer at the same time as starting work at Doherty Hungary Kft. Miklós attends university in term time, followed by a period of full time, paid, employment. The time spent with us is approximately 2 months each semester. He is studying engineering at GAMF and is helping the engineers at Dohertys in preparing technical drawings, organising documents, optimising tool storage and planning equipment.
Whilst Miklós will have a longer trainee period overall, this approach will enable him to work on more difficult and rewarding jobs than a general trainee would be able to do.
“This is the only way to develop your own business specific skills over the long term. We cannot get people off the street who know what we need them to know so we train them, over years, to understand our processes, products and equally important, our culture. We will train at least one engineer of the future each year using this method, and one day these trainees will become part of the Management Team”. Jim Doherty, Managing Director.
