The dual system of vocational education and youth coaching programme in Austria A Nordic conference on workbased learning – Learning for Life Iceland,25,September.

The dual system of vocational education and youth coaching

programme in Austria

A Nordic conference on workbased learning – Learning for Life

Iceland,25,September 2014

 Ingeborg Friehs

Public Employment Service Austria

The Austrian dual system

What?Duration: 2-4 yearsEmployment contract with the firm (special type –apprenticeship), remuneration80% company- based learning, 20% school200+ different professions with standardised curriculaFinal examination –diploma of completing a vocational educationPossibility of passing an entry exam for university after completing the apprenticeship

The Austrian dual system

Who?40% of each cohort, approx. 125.000 apprenticesUsually after finishing compulsory school ( age 15)Offers opportunities also for weaker pupilsSupport for disadvantaged and those who couldn`t find an apprenticeship in a company : supra –company apprenticeship (training guarantee) and integrated vocational education (one year more than usual)

The Austrian dual system

How to find an apprenticeship position?Usually the young person applies directly at the companySupport of the PES to find a companyIf no apprenticeship place can be found, young people can do a supra –company apprenticeship

The Austrian dual system

Why do firms offer apprenticeship positions?Long established system, widely recognised tradition to offer apprenticeship positions, (40.000 enterprises, each company needs a person who has a training authority)Investing in company-specific knowledgePreventing shortage of skilled workers

The Austrian dual system

Essential role of social partnership:For companies and employees it is obligatory to be a member of the Chamber of Commerce or the Chamber of labour respectively.Those two chambers are strongly committed to the apprenticeship system.They are strongly involved, in particular with regard to the deveopment of new trades or the adaption of the curricula.The overall orientation of the dual system has a strong focus on business needs.

The Austrian dual system

Financing :Enterprises develop voluntary at one`s own expense ( the whole training in the firm as well as the remuneration to the apprentices)Low remuneration – corresponding to the fact that apprentices are basically in a learning position but not in a full productive working position:

Approx. 420€ in the first year, 540€ in the second,770€ in the third and 840€ in the fourth year( the remuneration is higher in the metal processing industry ). – Corresponds to 10-20% of a skilled workers salary in the first year and 20-50% in the third year of apprenticeship.

Schools (equippment, teachers) are financed by StateSupra- company apprenticeship training is completely financed by State

The Austrian dual system

Subsidies to employers:Yearly basic subsidy: It amounts to three times the apprentisceship compensation in the first year, two times in the second and once in the third and fourth year Additional quality related subsidies ( for every final examination with excellent grades, support for further education of trainers, measures for apprentices with learning deficits…)Special incentives for specific target groups ( women in male- dominated occupations, disadvantaged ) , offered by PES or fundings for apprentices with disabilities, offered by the Federal Social Service

The Austrian dual system

Advantages from a labour market perspective:Training takes place under conditions of a real work lifeAlways „state of the art“ – more flexibility to respond to technical progress in comparison to a school system.Labour market access is easier after completing the training (work practice available, training company knows the strengths and weaknesses of the individual young person)Better prospects for disadvantaged, late developed and weak young personsTraining takes place predominately in productive work situation. This reduces costs and reinforces the learning motivation of the young people.

The Austrian dual systemChallenges:Change in the skills that are demanded. Focus is changing to more adapability and skills that are easier to inpart in schools. Frequently enterprises have to take over the role of the young people´s home regarding to learn a good behave.Trend towards a higher qualification and education, which allow directly entering into university with the consequence that predominantly weaker young people ore those who don`t want to go to school any more are candidates for apprenticeships.- Leads to a loss of image.Instability of jobs and apprenticeship positions is increasing and also the continuance in a company after completion has been decreasing. - Leads to uncertainty.In particular sectors (e.g.tourism), there is a shortage of apprentices while in sum more people are looking for an apprenticeship than positions are offered.Gender segregation and persons with migration background are underrepresented –a better vocational orientation becomes more important.

The Austrian dual system

Supracompany apprenticeship:Since 1998 offer of additional apprenticeship places (employment package), since 2008 training guaranteeTarget group. Those who couldn`t find an apprenticeship position or who did drop out of a company- based apprenticeshipThe priority is, to find an apprenticeship position within a company

Two types:

a.Supra –company apprenticeship training is carried out by an educational institution:

• Theoretical training in a vocational school

• Practical training offered by the educational institution

• Training contract during the entire time of apprenticeship, (if necessary) between the educational institution and the apprentice

• Goal: completion of apprenticeship (ideally in a firm)

The Austrian dual system

b. Cooperation between an educational institution and a private company:

• Theoretical training in a vocational school

• Practical training in a company

• Training contract betwen the educational institution and the apprentice ( usually 1 year)

Goal: transfer to apprenticeship in a company

Participants receive comprehensive support:

Socio-pedagogical counselling,learning support, assistencewith job search or apprenticeship search

The Austrian dual system

Allowance for participants:

€ 270 per month in the first and second year,

€ 600 per month from the third year

Places in supracompany apprenticeship training entities: around 12.000

Budget 2012/13: around 175Mio €, expenses per person and year: around 14.000€

Labour market integration within one year: more than 50%

Youth Coaching Programme

Target group: young people and people not in education, employment or training (NEETS)

Goal: to keep young people within the education and training system as long as possible and

Efforts are made to ensure that those who have already left the system will be offered the chance to resume their education or training.

Youth Coaching has been created to ensure the interface of advice, guidance and support for young people from the end of compulsory school until such time as they are fully integrated into continuing training or educational programmes.

Fields of support and advice are education and employment issues as well as personal issues

Youth Coaching Programme

Coaches offer free support and are responsible to cooperate and communicate with different programme partners (employment services, the federal social office, schools, municipalities, projects, training institutions, external counselling institutions)

The pilot of this programme started in 2012 with about 12.500 participants and has been implemented in 2013 nationwide with around 35.000 persons.

Result of the pilot-evaluation: Only 15% oft he participants dropped out or left the programme without a specific goal orientation, the programme turned out to be very successful.

The programme is carried out by the Federal Social Office.

Thank you for your attention!