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My comment wasn't about Seimens either. It's about the central problem. Which is that companies, and society, want "flexible" employees, but we currently turn o

by bilbo0s 10y ago

My comment wasn't about Seimens either. It's about the central problem. Which is that companies, and society, want "flexible" employees, but we currently turn out "trained" employees. So there is an impedance mismatch there. And that is what puts society in the bind. For instance, in the Seimens program you mentioned, what happens if Seimens closes up shop and moves to Brazil? Is the vo-tech grad with years of Seimens specific training and experience going to be flexible enough to take a job at another tech firm? I'm honestly unsure that would be the case. Whereas, if he had a math, science or engineering degree from Georgia Tech, Nebraska or Arkansas... I would be a COMPLETELY comfortable hiring him. So we're getting into this unemployment situation because factories or other jobs move, and leave behind workers who are not flexible enough to thrive in a different industry. (By we, I meant society.)

tedmiston 10y ago
I'm not so sure it's about flexibility. If these roles are changing to involve more computers (software is eating the world) and require more computer skills, it's something many traditional apprentices lack while they are good with their hands. I wish the author had given more concrete examples of what these real world requirements are.
microtherion 10y ago
For instance, in the [Siemens] program you mentioned, what happens if [Siemens] closes up shop and moves to Brazil? Is the vo-tech grad with years of [Siemens] specific training and experience going to be flexible enough to take a job at another tech firm? I'm honestly unsure that would be the case. One difference between the programs described in the article and apprenticeships as they work in Switzerland or Germany is that in the latter countries, the professional degrees are standardized as well, so you don't get a degree as a "Siemens Widget Wrangler", but as a "Polymechanic" (despite having done the same combination of working for Siemens and going to school that you might have done in the US). The standardization is supposed to make it simpler to move between employers.

by bilbo0s 10y ago

tedmiston 10y ago

I'm not so sure it's about flexibility. If these roles are changing to involve more computers (software is eating the world) and require more computer skills, it's something many traditional apprentices lack while they are good with their hands. I wish the author had given more concrete examples of what these real world requirements are.

microtherion 10y ago

For instance, in the [Siemens] program you mentioned, what happens if [Siemens] closes up shop and moves to Brazil? Is the vo-tech grad with years of [Siemens] specific training and experience going to be flexible enough to take a job at another tech firm? I'm honestly unsure that would be the case. One difference between the programs described in the article and apprenticeships as they work in Switzerland or Germany is that in the latter countries, the professional degrees are standardized as well, so you don't get a degree as a "Siemens Widget Wrangler", but as a "Polymechanic" (despite having done the same combination of working for Siemens and going to school that you might have done in the US). The standardization is supposed to make it simpler to move between employers.