The scientists of the competence field Vocational Education and Professionals analyze what contribution vocational training makes to companies.
![[Translate to Englisch:] [Translate to Englisch:]](/fileadmin/_processed_/4/b/csm_GettyImages-1127728348_3a388f1928.jpg)
Vocational Education and Professionals
The focus is on the dual system of vocational education and training with its two learning venues of company and vocational school. The researchers are investigating how dual training can be further developed to meet the challenges of economic structural change, demographic development, internationalization and the increasing demands of the world of work. They are also identifying trends in in-company continuing education and analyzing how lifelong learning can be promoted.
Sections of the Research Unit
The researchers analyse the German dual VET system, which combines school-based and work-based learning. They also investigate trends in supply and demand of apprenticeship positions and how VET can remain sustainable and attractive for both young people and enterprises.
Topics in this area include the rate and extent of companies’ activities in continuing vocational training, e.g., by providing refresher courses or other forms of lifelong learning. Every three years IW researchers conduct the representative “IW Continuing Vocational Training Study”.
Skilled workers are vital for the success of German enterprises. Research on the availability or shortages of skilled workers as well as potential solutions to this problem – in particular for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) –are major topics of the research unit.
In particular due to the low youth unemployment rates the interest of other countries in the German dual VET system is growing. Therefore, researchers exchange regularly with representatives of other countries how dual elements in VET can be strengthened. Furthermore, the research unit provides information about foreign VET systems and foreign qualifications (bq-portal.de) in order to provide more transparency for companies and to support the competent bodies in the equivalence assessment. Many of the topics of the research unit are closely connected to other research units concerned with schooling, academic qualifications, or migration issues, inter alia. The main focus is on Germany. However, in many topics, there is a strong connection to European policy-making (e.g., concerning the implementation of "dual" elements abroad). We contribute our expertise to the public and political debate.
Contacts
Studien und Beiträge aus dem Kompetenzfeld

Pharmaceuticals in Transition: The Need for Skilled Labour in an Era of Digital Transformation
The shortage of skilled workers is increasingly confronting companies in Germany with major challenges. In view of the demographic and transformational tasks, there is a considerable danger that this situation will exacerbate.
IW

Behind the scenes of upheaval and change: Businesses in the transformation process
The pressure on companies and their employees to change and adapt is enormous against the background of megatrends such as digital and ecological change.
IW

HR Analytics: Fields of application and success factors
In this study, the term HR analytics is used to describe data-based decision-making in HR, whereby the transitions from classic HR controlling to HR analytics, in which various data sources are combined to identify interdependencies and make predictions, are fluid. The study provides an overview of the potential of HR analytics and the success factors for its introduction and use.
IW

Integration through professional recognition for refugees from the Ukraine
Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine has triggered a wave of refugees, in the course of which many Ukrainians have already come to Germany and more are still to come. For the refugees, protection, childcare and family care are priorities.
IW

Design paths and design practices of digitalisation in elderly care in NRW
The project "Digitalisation and Work Design in Elderly Care" focuses on company design paths and design practices of digitalisation.
IW

Professional Training in times of Corona
Despite the corona-related contact restrictions, participation in continuing vocational education and training (CET) had not declined massively by summer 2020. This is because a large part of the measures could still take place thanks to corresponding digital offers. However, there are significant differences depending on the employment sector, qualification level, gender and number of children of the participants in CET.
IW

New paths or wrong paths for the training market?
Some of the demands made by the political parties in their election programs for the federal elections are specifically aimed at increasing the demand for and supply of vocational education and training. In this analysis, the measures are evaluated economically based on empirical data and previous research findings.
IW

Without immigration, the potential workforce is already shrinking
Demographic change has been foreseeable for a long time, but has not always led to forward-looking policies. This study shows that demographic change is accelerating significantly and thus requires decisive and timely action.
IW

Business Models and Vocational Training in the Digital Transformation
The technology driven development of business models is of great importance for the future of vocational education and training. Digital competencies - such as digital literacy, interaction, collaboration, and learning - are an indispensable part of vocational training for a modern working world to qualify future skilled workers for their professional life.
IW

Digital Learning Media Boost Continuing Vocational Training in Enterprises
Digitalisation is leading to an increasing need for training. Companies which have already achieved a higher level of digitalisation see a greater need for further training than their less digitalised peers and are investing correspondingly more time and money in training their workforce.
IW