Quality of Education

Hans Böckler Foundation funds a research project on the quality of vocational training from the perspective of Generations Z and Alpha

Prof. Dr Viola Deutscher and Prof. Dr Martin Adam have successfully raised third-party funding for a new research project from the Hans Böckler Foundation. The project, entitled ‘Ausbildungsqualität aus Sicht von Gen Z und Gen Alpha' (The Quality of Vocational Training from the Perspective of Gen Z and Gen Alpha), will receive a total of 330,000 euros in funding over a period of two and a half years. Viola Deutscher is a professor of Business Education and Digital Vocational Learning at the Faculty of Business and Economics. Martin Adam holds the Chair of Smart Services.

The project examines the expectations and experiences of young people entering the apprenticeship market for the first time. It focuses on Generations Z and Alpha, and on how their perceptions of work, learning and vocational training are changing. The aim is to identify current requirements for high-quality apprenticeships and, on that basis, to develop practical approaches to improving apprenticeship conditions.

A key outcome of the project will be the development of an app for monitoring the quality of apprenticeships. The app is designed to continuously track the progress of apprenticeships and help identify risk factors for dropping out at an early stage.

Methodologically, the research project combines qualitative interviews with a quantitative panel study. Over a period of six months, trainees will document their day-to-day training experiences using an app. The experience-sampling method will be employed, which enables the real-time recording of perceptions and experiences in real-life training situations.

With funding from the Hans Böckler Foundation, Prof. Dr Viola Deutscher and Prof. Dr Martin Adam are advancing research into the conditions for successful vocational training. The project contributes to a better understanding of the expectations of younger generations and opens up new perspectives for the evidence-based further development of training quality.