Cross-border vocational education and training as a process of cross-border learning. The example of the Saarland-Lorraine border region

Abstract

Cross-border vocational education and training (VET) becomes more and more important in the Saarland(DE)-Lorraine(F) border region – even if so far there is only a small number of cases. It may be a solution for high youth unemployment rates in Lorraine and difficulties to find appropriated apprentices in Saarland.

Questions and topics

The main research questions of the research project are: 1. How did cross-border VET develop since the introduction of the Framework agreement on cross-border vocational and further training Saarland/Lorraine in 2014? 2. What learning processes are related with the development of cross-border VET?

The main results of the analyses through problem-centred in-depth interview in Saarland and their evaluation show:

  • Positive development of cross-border VET
  • Different forms of cross-border VET for different needs
  • More and more enterprises are interested
  • Pioneers boost the development
  • Emerging „real“ cross-border structures
  • Growing confidence in partners
  • Experts with in-depth know-how und contacts to other border regions

At the same time:

  • Cross-border VET needs very intensive and individual support
  • Tacit knowledge is hardly accesible for some actors
  • Discontinuity of financial support for structures
  • Opportunistic behaviour in some cases
  • Language and intercultural barriers

Contact

Birte Nienaber

Department of Geography and Spatial Planning

University of Luxembourg
Peter Dörrenbächer

Gesellschaftswissenschaftliche Europaforschung

Saarland University
Ines Funk

Gesellschaftswissenschaftliche Europaforschung

Saarland University