School to work transitions in Denmark:  - reforming the Dual System of VET

Beskrivelse

The patterns of transition from education to work have generally become prolonged and more complex, and with growing problems of low retention rates in education and youth unemployment in the period of transition to work. Secondary vocational education and training based on a Dual System and occupational labour markets are generally noted for having low levels of youth unemployment and a smooth transition to work. This is assumed to be an effect of the central institution of this regime, the vocation (‘Beruf') that provides a close link between education and work and a specific form of socialisation to working life. The Danish system of VET is based on this type of transition regime. Still the drop out rate of secondary vocational education has remained over 20% for many years - and it tends to increase. Retention in VET thus has become a major political issue, and a number of reforms have intended to make the system more flexible and inclusive. These reforms have called in question the future of the vocation (Beruf) and the cultural underpinnings of the system. This paper discusses some of the properties of this regime and reports the results of a research project on school to work transition in the Danish business sector. Special interest is put on the role of vocations (‘Berufe') both seen as social institutions and as vocational identities.