German-style dual apprenticeship training in the Greater Shanghai Area- Spatial Agglomeration Dynamics

Abstract

A considerable number of German multinational enterprises (MNE) are located in the Greater Shanghai Area. German MNE in the industrial sector show an inclination to export German forms of technical training—more specifically German-style dual apprenticeship training—to their worldwide subsidiaries. Within China, this is especially the case for the Greater Shanghai Area, which has established itself as a ‘hotspot’ for dual apprenticeship training in the last 15 years. This paper explores what makes the Greater Shanghai Area such a ‘hotspot’ for dual apprenticeship training—in international comparison—by focusing on factors influencing the spatial agglomeration of dual apprenticeship training activities in this region. The paper finds unevenly distributed institutional resources regarding the attraction of German Foreign Direct Investment as well as unevenly distributed resources at the skill formation system level as important influencing factors. Both factors show ‘self-reinforcing’ dynamics strengthening already existing spatial agglomeration of dual apprenticeship training activities.