In view of the shortage of skilled workers and the migration from apprenticeship to academic training, NRW's study-integrated training (SiA) has developed an alternative that is as sensible as it is convincing.
The procedure is very well thought out: the young people gain practical experience in the training occupation - e.g. at LeasAG - in conjunction with the vocational college - and also take study modules of a training-related course of study at the university. Three places of learning are thus linked together: company, vocational college and university. The time required corresponds to a regular 40-hour week.
After 12-18 months, the trainees can decide which educational and vocational path they would like to take. The advantage: If the decision is made in favour of pure training, they are not drop-outs. The study modules can even be credited to a course of study that is continued at a later date.
If they stay with the study-integrated training, they can present a commercial training degree and a Bachelor's degree at the end. They receive coaching to help them make this decision for their further education and career path on their own responsibility.
Within the coaching, the trainees also receive help from SiA-NRW to learn methods of scientific work, self-organisation and learning methods or to be supported in crisis situations.