Germany
This report, the last of a series of three reports, summarizes the project’s findings, which were formulated on the basis of research conducted in Canada, China, Germany, India, Indonesia, Singapore and Thailand. It provides an overview of: (a) trends in the ICT sector, ICT labour markets and the migration of ICT workers; (b) the potential demand for skilled workers and current and anticipated skills mismatches in the digital economy; and (c) strategies for improving ICT education and training. Furthermore, it summarizes the key research findings and outlines possible policy responses that could be adopted with a view to scaling up current initiatives to advance decent work opportunities in the digital economy.
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1787/9789264266681-en
Many apprentices in companies belong to the generation of the so-called “digital natives”. They grew up with computers, smartphones and other digital devices and aren’t afraid of new digital technologies. Yet the fact that they are more digitally competent doesn’t mean they also have better math or reading skills than the previous generations of apprentices.
Some German companies have found a way to make use of the affinity of young apprentices for new digital technologies to improve the quality of their apprenticeship training. They do this by introducing E-learning tools that support their apprentices – often in a playful way – in subjects in which they need supplementary assistance. This helps guarantee that the apprentices can successfully follow training, both practical within companies as well as theoretical, within vocational schools. One prerequisite for this approach is that not only the apprentices, but also the in-company trainers are open to change and have the necessary competencies to make use of new digital tools.
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