Apprentices' perceptions of quality in the Swiss initial vocational education and training dual system

Abstract

The quality of education and training is a key factor in explaining apprentices' motivations and helping sustain their efforts in acquiring the necessary skills for their future occupation. Yet, the perceived quality of initial vocational education and training (IVET) may vary according to the learning location and the occupational fields. To identify the characteristics defining IVET quality, according to apprentices, and whether these characteristics differ between occupational fields, a survey was administered to 320 apprentices enrolled in a Swiss dual IVET program in the fields of retail and technics. The apprentices were asked what they consider to be the high- and low-quality aspects of their education and training. Results showed that the most frequently mentioned aspects reflecting high quality referred to the apprentices' social learning environment, whereas the codes related to poor quality referred to the IVET context. Differences in the perception of quality were found between the two occupational fields.