The purpose of this paper is to describe what we know about apprenticeships and traineeships, with a view to assessing the likely impact of the current economic downturn on them.
The importance of close connections between vocational education and training (VET) systems and industry is highlighted in this report. The report finds that any system of entry-level training, which aims to help students make a successful transition from school to work, must have support mechanisms and frameworks in place to enable accurate assessment of industry and labour market needs. From Australia's perspective, the Korean experience provides useful insights to improving school retention rates, and establishing formal pathways for VET students who are not undertaking apprenticeships and traineeships. From the Korean perspective, useful lessons include developing inter-sectoral linkages between industry and education, applying flexible teaching and training methods, implementing a national qualifications framework, and introducing apprenticeship-type arrangements.