Dual Company- and University-Based Forms of Training in Germany and in the US: A (re-)conceptualization

The present study investigates and compares alternating forms of training in Germany and in the United States. Traditionally, in this context, a differentiation is made between the collectively organized dual training practiced in Germany and the more strongly market-driven apprenticeships found in the United States. This classical differentiation, however, does not suffice to adequately grasp the expansion of dual company and university-based training courses to be observed in both countries. Against this background, the author proposes a (re -)conceptualization for the comparison of alternating forms of training in Germany and the United States. As is shown by the institutional analysis, there are significant similarities between the dual company- and university-based forms of training practiced in the higher education systems of the two countries.