With the current high level of youth unemployment in the European Union, the affected countries are looking for ways to improve the transition between school and employment and are increasingly turning their sights on the dual vocational training system. Combining theoretical reflection in vocational schools with practical in-company experience not only ensures that the business world will have skilled workers with real-life training, but also facilitates the young people’s transition into the labour market. A strong interest in the dual system extends beyond the borders of Europe, with India, China, Russia and Vietnam having already arranged to cooperate with the German government.

This study reviews how countries can adopt different aspects of the German dual model in line with the country’s own educational, social and economic objectives. To this end, the dual vocational training system has been broken down into eleven components that can be viewed individually: How is the dual system financed? How can theory and practical training be combined in a meaningful way? How are examinations conducted? The paper shows how individual components can be imported and what options exist for substituting certain elements. The study extends beyond the scope of the German system, to the international level. It explores core aspects of the eleven essential elements of Germany’s dual system, along with a discussion of their potential benefits for other countries and possible approaches to exporting a modified version of the system.