A COMPARATIVE APPROACH TO VOCATIONAL EDUCATION AND TRAINING POLICIES IN SPAIN: THE TRADITIONAL PATTERN OF SKILL FORMATION VS DUAL SYSTEM

In the last decade, the differences between the education and training systems in the liberal and coordinated market economies have increased. In Spain it is implementing Vocational Education and Training (VET) based on the principle of dual education. This means that the apprentices combine one part of their education and training at a vocational school and another part in a company or firm directly involved in ordinary working life. VET, and particularly apprenticeship systems rather than school based VET, are deeply embedded in the national education systems. However, the principle of dual education within VET is known worldwide for its ability to provide labour market with highly qualified workers which are able to adjust to new and changing conditions and introduction of new technology.

Young people's transitions from education to work are shaped by a variety of structural and institutional relations in education and the labour market. The skilled labour educated and trained according to dual education has a very high mobility in labour market. Dual education secures tight connections between the educational system and businesses and enterprises because of the involvement in the educational processes and finally the principal of dual education is a relatively cheap way to educate skilled labour compared to school based educational systems within VET.

In order to contribute to a better understanding of the dynamics of VET, we examine differences and similarities in a comparative transitional context across the two systems, to consider the question of how to educate young people for work and career. Historically, this question has been central to vocational education, and it is receiving renewed attention in the context of concerns over the ability of schools to provide adequate preparation for occupational roles and career success in a rapidly changing economic landscape. Finally, a conceptual analysis of central ideas of vocational knowledge and underscores the important role of learning in the context of practice is offered.

The study conducted is a survey design using the questionnaire as a tool for information gathering. Students survey the sessions rating it on a five point Likert scale (1 poor to 5 excellent) for relevance, contribution to knowledge, and overall effectiveness.

Overall the study shows that dual education has improved practical knowledge of students and therefore can translate into a better transition from being apprentice to becoming a trained employee.