Within the process of harmonizing and strengthening Europe as a competitive knowledge economy education is presented as a basic pillar of economic growth in a multitude of European policy papers. But how do individuals respond to incentives coming from European education politics? (How) are they appropriating given targets and how do they engage…

In North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW), one of the German states, catchment areas for part-time vocational schools were abolished in 2008. With the intention to foster competition between schools in order to improve school quality, training companies now may freely choose the school of their choice. NRW is the first German state to take this step. In the…

Describes the education and training degree programs with government sponsorship operated by a large German chemical company for high school graduates in electronic data processing and mathematics, economics assistant, engineering assistant or fully qualified engineer, and additional staff training in various technologies, leadership, economics,…