[weinzierl]

> I 'm not sure if they are talking about "dualstudium",

I agree with what you wrote but the OP is not about Dualstudium. The "dual educational" the article refers to, is about non-univerity tertiary education (Duale Ausbildung). The dual part is the fact that this happens in a company and a (usually state run) school. [1]

As an example: If you want to work as a plumber in Germany you have to get a certificate. The only way to get the certificate is to participate in the dual educational system.

For a plumber that means to find an employer that is willing to give them a three and half year apprenticeship contract. The apprentice will work only three or four days, the other days they have to attend school. The exact details depend on the trade, some have a three work week, one school week schedule, but the general idea is that work and school education happen at the same time.

Not all trades follow this model but if they do it's mandatory. Also the newly certified plumber is only allowed to do plumbing jobs. To be allowed to install a heating system for example they have to make a run trough the dual system again, now with the HVAC guild. Just to install a new heating system you need at least a HVAC company, a plumber, an electrician and a mason. The HVAC guy won't touch any pipes, cables or bricks because he is not allowed to by law and discouraged by his guild. Same for the plumber, electrician and mason.

What the article misses to mention is that the system makes every task that falls in a regulated area very expensive. As a consequence of this it also leads to a lot of illicit work.

[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dual_education_system

[JepZ]

You are right and I think half of the people here did not understand the difference between 'Duales Studium' and 'Duale Ausbildung'.

But on the other hand, I don't quite get what the Universities have to do with the dual education System?!? I mean, as far as I know, Universities are specialized in higher education.

[weinzierl]

The headline is misleading and I believe the article is not clear about the role of the universities.

[HarryHirsch]

It's called "skilled trade" for a reason. When the apprentice plumber has passed his apprenticeship everyone knows that this fellow knows his stuff and can follow developments in his field. If you want plumbing done, get a plumber, if you want electric get an electrician. If you want a trained monkey, go to America.

[circlefavshape]

Do they have apprenticeships for monkeys in America?

[mcguire]

Some days, I suspect we are participating in one.

[dsfyu404ed]

That sounds incompatible with American values on several levels. Locking people into careers and preventing other skilled people from doing similar jobs because they haven't bought into a union or become part of a special group is the source of most things Americans hate about similar systems where we have them.

[_nx010_]

Incompatible with American values?...

A cursory search on Google shows that in America, if you want to be an HVAC tech or a plumber, you basically have to take the same steps: get a high school diploma, then find a formal apprenticeship or a vocational program, then get licensed and get a certificate. The whole process takes years too. It's basically the same.

And as an American consumer it's not like you get a random handyman from the street to do the work, is it? You almost always go with one of these certified guys. And similar to the OP, there is a bunch of "illicit" work here too. Like my mechanic once insisted on coming to my home after hours to fix my car (easy fix), presumably so he can avoid paying shop fees.

[omaranto]

Just because it's standard procedure in America doesn't mean it can't also be against "American values".