With the rise of the knowledge economy, the symbiotic relationship between Germany’s production strategy and its collective skill formation system is coming under pressure. Due to upskilling and a shift away of youth from the traditional VET system, a gap for technical mid-level skilled workers is arising. How is Germany’s securing its need for technical and qualified mid-skilled workers and what mechanisms explain the resulting adaptation strategy? Based on theories of comparative capitalisms and institutional change, we argue that the German VET system is internationalizing and increasing its permeability. This internationalization of VET is a further instance of institutional layering and reflects an adaptation strategy of the traditionally collective skills formation system in Germany to pressures of the knowledge economy. We argue that the origins and explanations of this adaptation strategy can be found in the export-led growth model and inertia within the German system inhibiting its ability to reform from within. Descriptive data from secondary and grey literature, and transcripts of expert interviews with actors involved in the internationalization of VET provide evidence for the proposed argument.
Event Title
Swiss Political Science Association Annual Congress