Report on the study tour "The dual system of higher education in countries outside of Europe"

Publication date
2019
Document type
Report
Author
Hesser, Wilfried
Organisational unit
DDC Class
370 Bildung und Erziehung
Abstract
The aim of the study tour was to verify the potential and the demand for a dual higher education system and to identify a closer interlinking between vocational training and academic education in the selected countries. One area of focus during this tour was the issue of knowledge about the dual system of higher education in Germany and hence promotion of the internationalisation of universities of applied science. In a first step, discussions based on an interview guideline were held with German Chambers of Industry and Commerce (AHKs), such as AHK Shanghai, AHK Hong Kong, AHK Singapore and AHK New Delhi. AHKs in the four countries mentioned essentially concentrate on services for enterprises such as promotion and support for German enterprises. In all countries – with the exception of the AHK in Singapore – the dual system of study only has limited significance for higher education institutes and enterprises. In none of the countries was it possible for the AHKs to indicate a higher education institute or a dual system of study. This does not mean that German training establishments, such as the Baden-Wuerttemberg Cooperative State University (Duale Hochschule Baden-Württemberg – DHBW) are not trying to agree cooperation arrangements with higher education institutes. At the same time, however, according to information from the AHKs, it can also be noted that both higher education institutes and enterprises, including government representatives, only have very limited knowledge of the dual system of higher education in Germany. Regardless of the willingness to cooperate among the players – namely higher education institute in Germany (1), higher education institute outside of Europe (2), the enterprises (3), the AHKs (4) and the governments (5) – the legal framework, such as legislation for higher education institutes, is an important step that needs to be discussed and clarified in the information phase with the higher education institutes and the enterprises, because obstacles relating to higher education law currently seem to be insurmountable in the implementation of dual courses of higher education. Higher education institutes, such as the universities of applied science in Germany, can act as strong partners in supporting the implementation of dual courses of study. At the same time, these cooperation arrangements will lead to a greater degree o internationalisation for the Germany universities of applied science. The countries visited differ radically in their structures, in political, cultural, economic as well as social terms. A regional exchange of experience between AHKs particularly on the topic of implementing a dual system of higher education would represent added value for the employees of the AHKs.
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