I’m sure you’ve heard the buzz around the German apprenticeship system—but does it really live up to the hype?

That’s what a recent mission of 16 workforce professionals from around the United States set out to learn. Supported by the Transatlantic Program of the Federal Republic of Germany, funded by the European Recovery Program of the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action, and coordinated by America Works in partnership with the American Council on Germany, the October 2022 trip was truly a team effort. Our group included eight professionals from the MEP Manufacturing Network and eight from other partner organizations—representing 11 states and a variety of educational, manufacturing, and government backgrounds.

Germany mission participants meet with apprentices and their trainer at a small manufacturer in Duren.

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