Enhancing students’ technical skills through a dual education system

In a world where young people often confront themselves with a tough job market and the threat of unemployment, it is important to provide children still in school with what is called a “dual education”. The dual education system combines both apprenticeships in companies and vocal education at school, so that pupils can learn in an environment that encourages work-based learning. By applying work-based learning into more traditional education methods teachers will be able to provide their students with real work experience and technical skills that will enhance their future employability. 
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The new edition of the course “When school and labour market meet: dual education and work-based learning​” took place in Bologna from 08/06/2025 to 14/06/2025 The participants came from all across Europe, with Luka Frlan, Tomislav Budimir, Tajana Doko, and Ivana Borovčak Prša from Croatia; Adélio Jorge Paulo da Silva from Portugal; and Kjel Vanhonacker, Yves Remue, and Hilde Langie from Belgium.

After a cultural tour around the medieval city centre of Bologna, participants immersed themselves into dual education and work-based learning. First of all they presented themselves and explained the role they have in their schools, so that the course could be adapted to their necessities. Afterwards, they were able to learn what dual education is. They discovered its history in Germany but also the differences with the education system in Italy: two different ways of dual education and work based learning, and so many more opportunities!
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During the week they also learnt about the different models in which dual education can be implemented and the role of the companies, as well as creating together a checklist to find new partners for their schools. They took as an example two Bolognese schools that have been collaborating with Ferrari and Lamborghini for almost 10 years to give students the opportunity to learn and practice in a big company, improving their employability at the end of the course.
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Participants also had the opportunity to hear the experience of Federico Pollastri, transnational WBL coordinator of IFOM, a social enterprise that support the transnational work based learning of thousands of students each year. With Federico they could understand the advantage that a WBL experience abroad can offer: learning a new language, becoming more independent, managing their own budget and getting to know a different culture and work environment. 

Finally, they could work together on a plan to implement dual education in their schools with a new and bigger network here in Italy to send some students for their internships. 

We were happy to see how the participants left full of inspiration, ideas and tools to start implementing these new methods in their own schools.
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Discover more about this course here.