Dropouts in Swiss vocational education and the effect of training companies' trainee selection methods. (1st October 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Forsblom, Lara; Negrini, Lucio; Gurtner, Jean-Luc; Schumann, Stephan
• Is Part Of: Journal of vocational education & training. Volume 68:Number 4(2016)
• Page Start: 399
• Page End: 415
• Publication Date: 2016-10-01
• Subjects: Vocational education -- dropouts -- premature apprenticeship contract terminations -- trainee selection methods; Vocational education -- Periodicals; Technical education -- Periodicals; 370.11305
• DOI: 10.1080/13636820.2016.1222596
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1363-6820

Abstract

Abstract: In the Swiss vocational education system, which is often called a 'Dual System', trainees enter into an apprenticeship contract with a training company. On average, 25% of those contracts are terminated prematurely (PCT). This article examines the relationship between training companies' selection methods and PCTs. The investigation is based on a quantitative study with a cross-sectional design and on qualitative interviews. Trainers and operations managers ( N = 335) of Swiss training companies for cooks and painters were surveyed. Half of the companies have been affected by a PCT in the past and the other half have not. The findings indicate that a certain amount of the explained variance between companies with and without reported PCTs can be explained by the companies' selection process. Companies that were affected by a PCT use a job interview and a company visit significantly less often in their selection process than companies without a PCT.