Vocational education and training in Mexico - how the country has tropicalised the dual model

Mexico is one of the world's major economic locations and, as a G-20 member, is also an attractive place for German companies to do business. Given the global competition in the manufacturing sector, the training and securing of skilled workers is becoming ever more significant. Vocational education and training that provides a combination of theory and company-based training is considered to be a successful strategy for training skilled workers in line with economic needs. For this purpose, Mexico has developed a form of training based on the German dual model which it has then adapted to meet the "tropical" nature of its general conditions. This article presents the characteristics of Mexican dual VET and highlights commonalities with and differences to the German system of vocational education and training.