Career without degree? — It can be done!

Do we all need to be academics? No! Today, even though policy-makers in education and training and the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) are praising universities, traditional vocational education and training offers more opportunities than ever before.

"It is not good when parents try to force their children down particular career path," — a comment made by Frank-Jürgen Weise, Chairman of the Federal Employment Agency, and somebody who understands all about occupational pathways. "The responsible thing to do is to support your offspring in finding the right career pathway for them." And, in fact, it doesn't matter whether this leads to university or to a career without a degree.

However, the Bertelsmann Stiftung "Vocational Education and Training Country Monitor" once again shows the direction which increasing numbers of parents believe is right for their children. According to this, applicant numbers for vocational education and training across Germany have fallen since 2007 from 756,000 to 613,000 — this is a record low and a negative decrease of 19 per cent. The number of training places also fell, however only by 13 per cent. The headlines following on from these figures. "Dual vocational education and training is becoming less important", "Education and training under pressure", or "Degrees even further ahead of vocational education and Training".

The ratio of first year students has actually almost doubled to around 60 per cent since the millennium. This is highly desirable in a political sense. For some time now, policy makers in education and training have been advocating the maximum possible ratio of academics - and with success. Public respect for vocational education and training has fallen, increasing numbers of parents believe that it is impossible to have a career without a degree.

This is incorrect however, if a career is understood as being an occupational pathway which is intellectually, financially and individually satisfying. There is hardly any other country in the world which is as good as Germany in terms of employment prospects and earnings potential for those with vocational qualifications. Youth unemployment in this country is lower than anywhere else in the European Union (EU). The significant contribution of the dual vocational education and training system in this regard is indisputable. Its quality is admired worldwide.

Both the USA and China are seeking to copy it. Germany's flagship training model is even being praised by the OECD who otherwise never fail to miss an opportunity to extol the virtues of academic career paths. "I caution against drawing a distinction in the importance of academic and non-academic education and training because both are equally valuable for our country," urges Frank-Jürgen Weise in the book "Career without degree".

Whether these pleas are heard depends mainly on the parents of school leavers. They have the greatest influence on the education training pathway taken by their children. However, for parents, what is "valuable for our Country" is of less interest — they have their eyes on which will be the most successful career path for their children. Many parents today understand career to mean only one thing: "higher, faster, further". And the statistical average suggests, for example, that a bachelors in business administration will provide greater income and status than training as a chef.

This way of thinking is nothing new, but is much more widespread today that it was when star chef and restaurateur Tim Mälzer was learning his trade. In "Career without degree", he describes his experiences at that time. "I was at a friend's, when his mother came and asked whether I was a classmate. I said I was training to be a chef. She then said that she supposed somebody had to do it." Arrogance like this is like a slap in the face for trainees.

The academisation craze — a term coined by Julian Nida-Rümelin, the well-known philosophy professor and former cultural secretary — brings with it additional risks and side effects. Career advisor, Jutta Boenig, observed, for example, that "The opportunity for creative self-orientation and inner balance is being removed for many children because they have to comply with the requirements of parents and of society." She says she doubts that "every young academic today really is an academic." She adds that this is evident in the high student drop-out rate of 30 per cent on average and in the complaints from the scientific community and from business about the disappointing level of many university leavers. Boenig believes passion is the key to professional success.

Heinz Schuler, psychology professor and diagnostician of vocational aptitude also agrees. "Even though many parents believe that their children can do anything — they should look very closely." He explains that unfortunately "many young people go against their own interests and [do] what their parents expect of them, added to which they also start their degree with entirely false expectations." Weise, Head of the Federal Employment Agency suggests that there can be no question of this being "the right way".

The German economy has several hundred occupations to offer school leavers who are more practically inclined. And the opportunities for gaining attractive training positions are increasing. In 2015, a record number of training places — around 40,000 — remain unfilled. The Bertelsmann Stiftung sets out in the "Vocational Education and Training Country Monitor" that, "A further reduction in the number of trainees could accelerate or trigger a shortage of skilled workers in many sectors because, at the same time as this, the baby boomer generation is entering retirement." They also state that, according to estimations, approximately 10.5 million employees with vocational education and training will have left the labour force by 2030.

Chambers of Industry and Commerce and Chambers of Crafts and Trades have been raising the alarm over such a long period that now even Johanna Wanka (CDU), Federal Minister of Education, is once again promoting dual vocational education and training. Corporations and small and medium-sized businesses are promoting their training places more heavily than ever before, they are professionalising their training plans and making themselves more attractive as a result.

Businesses are vying for university drop-outs, seeking to develop continuing education and training for vocationally qualified employees, promising better promotion opportunities than before; even periods abroad during training are now possible — everything is being done to once again generate interest and enthusiasm in the dual system among committed young people.

Paradoxical as it may sound, it is precisely the academisation trend which is making it easier and easier to find a satisfactory career path without a degree. "Above all, anybody wanting to take advantage of their opportunities must be able to change direction now and again," says TUI Cruise boss Wybcke Meier. "A rigid approach to career thinking creates limitations." She adds that this is equally applicable to both to those with vocational qualifications as well as academics. And she offers a reminder that, "a career is more than simply moving up a hierarchy."