Vocational Education in European Regions : Lower Saxony and Lombardy in Comparison

Abstract

Comparative studies on vocational education and training (VET) structures employ various theoretical approaches, leading to numerous classifications of national VET systems over time. However, these classifications often oversimplify the complexity of local labour and training ecosystems. This book summarises the research findings of a joint project between researchers from Osnabrück University, Germany, and the University of Bergamo, Italy, funded by the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD). The project compared VET structures in European regions, specifically Lower Saxony (Germany) and Lombardy (Italy). In this context, 'region' refers to sub-national geographical divisions coinciding with political-administrative boundaries. The project paid particular attention to the apprenticeship systems in both regions. This regional focus approvided valuable insights into regional specificities of VET structures that may have remained hidden when comparing national systems.