University? No thanks! An empirical study of why German apprentices with the Abitur choose not to go to university

ABSTRACT

More than a quarter of all trainees in Germany’s dual vocational training system have the Abitur – the German school-leaving qualification that entitles them to go to university. Some go to university after completing their apprenticeship, but others move straight into full-time employment. There is currently very little reliable empirical data about the reasons for these decisions, particularly among the latter group. This study considers around 1,100 trainees with the Abitur in four different training occupations in the German federal state of North Rhine-Westphalia, investigating the sociodemographic profile and the motives. It also explores in depth and critically discusses the motives of those not intending to go to university. The findings demonstrate that those choosing not to go to university are neither academically weak nor particularly risk-averse in their assessment of their prospects of obtaining a degree. They are more motivated by having a practical orientation, by financial factors and by good employment prospects.

KEYWORDS:

• Vocational education
• higher education
• career choice
• vocational and educational guidance
• school-to-work-transitions

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Notes

1. This focus excludes individuals who obtain their Abitur by means of what is called the ‘second training pathway’, in which individuals obtain the Abitur after completing a course of vocational education. The background in such cases is that the individuals involved have an entirely different motivation, because the successful competition of the vocational course provides credit and/or an entrance option into Abitur courses for students originally coming from the lower and medium track of the German compulsory school system (Fürstenau et al., 2014).

2. The research results presented here are embedded in a broader research project covering also some other states in Germany (Edeling & Pilz, 2017).

3. For reasons of space, a comprehensive theoretical account of how the chosen socioeconomic dimensions were identified cannot be included here. Please see the relevant literature cited in this article.

4. By contrast with other countries, Germany’s state universities – which a majority of all students attend – do not charge tuition fees. The cost factor, therefore, relates to accommodation and living costs and, in some cases, loss of earnings while studying.

5. Measured by one’s nationality and the country of birth of mother and father.

6. The grading system in Germany runs from 1 to 6. Grade 1 is the best.

7. For more information, in particular on the apprentice with Abitur who switch directly to the university after completing their apprenticeship training, see Edeling and Pilz (2017).

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Matthias Pilz

Matthias Pilz holds the Chair of Economic and Business Education at the University of Cologne. His research interests are: Transitional research between education and employment system, International Comparative (vocational) educational research, individualisation and differentiation of educational programmes, development and evaluation of teaching units and teaching-learning arrangements in economic education, school development and curriculum analysis.

Prof. Dr. Matthias Pilz

Universität zu Köln

Herbert-Lewin-Straße 2

50931 Köln

Telefon: [phone]

Email: [email protected]

Christian Ebner

Christian Ebner holds the Chair of Sociology at the Technische Universität Braunschweig. His research interests are: VET and labour market transitions, continuing education and training, occupations and labour market inequality.

Prof. Dr. Christian Ebner

Technische Universität Braunschweig

Institut für Soziologie

Lehrstuhl für Soziologie (Arbeit und Organisation)

Bienroder Weg 97

38106 Braunschweig

Telefon: +49 (0)531 - 391 8958

Email: [email protected]

Sabrina Edeling

Sabrina Edeling was Research Associate at the Department of Economic and Business Education (Prof. Dr. Matthias Pilz) of the University of Cologne and is currently Head of the Department of Strategic Controlling & Information Management at the University of Cologne.

Dr. Sabrina Edeling

Universität zu Köln

Albertus-Magnus-Platz

50923 Köln

Telefon: [phone]

Email: [email protected]