Abstract
In the title of this chapter I have retained the German term ‘Beruf’. The reason for this is that translations such as ‘job’, ‘occupation’ or ‘profession’ are not synonymous with what is understood by a ‘Beruf’ in Germany and other German-speaking countries1. I will try to make this clear and show that the principle of a ‘Beruf’ is a universal principle for regulating training contents and qualification standards in initial vocational training and thus for shaping a large segment of the qualification structure in Germany. Using empirical findings I will show that this qualification structure makes it possible to have types of work organisation which are less hierarchical and allow or at least can allow problem-solving to be left largely to the skilled workforce. I will then examine the external conditions which are needed to allow the ‘Beruf’-principle to function in initial vocational training or generally support its functioning. Finally, I will discuss the extent to which the ‘Beruf’-principle draws demarcation lines which have a negative impact on the responsiveness of the initial vocational training system to the challenges it faces.
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Reuling, J. (1998). The German ‘Berufsprinzip’ as a model for regulating training content and qualification standards. In: Nijhof, W.J., Streumer, J.N. (eds) Key Qualifications in Work and Education. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-011-5204-4_5
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-011-5204-4_5
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