Article Gold Open Access 2024

From provider to partner? Main elements of the relationship between schools and small- and medium-sized firms in vocational education work placements in the Basque and Navarre regions (Spain)

LC
Lavía, Cristina
 OB
Otero, Beatriz
 OM
Olazaran, Mikel
 AE
Albizu, Eneka
International Journal of Training and Development
Journal · Vol. 28 · Issue 2 · pp. 213-231
Abstract

This paper seeks to contribute to the knowledge of the relationship established between firms and vocational education and training (VET) schools around work placements in companies (both standard and extended, so-called ‘dual’, models) in Spain. An ad hoc survey of 332 small and medium enterprises (SMEs) from two industrial regions was conducted and a categorical principal components analysis was applied to identify the main dimensions or components of those relationships. The main elements found are related to (i) staff selection and social responsibility; (ii) trust, reciprocity and knowledge sharing with schools; and (iii) the organizational culture of the companies. The results obtained illustrate an evolution from a ‘provider-client’ scheme towards a more strategic partnership between schools and firms, thus contributing new aspects to the literature available on the Spanish case. © 2024 The Authors. International Journal of Training and Development published by Brian Towers (BRITOW) and John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

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Author Affiliations
Department of Sociology and Social Work, Universidad del Pais Vasco, Leioa, Biscay, Spain
Department of Financial Economics II, Universidad del Pais Vasco, Leioa, Biscay, Spain
Funding & Acknowledgements
Eusko Jaurlaritza
This research was supported by the Basque Government, the Department of Education (project no. PIBA2018/60) and the University of the Basque Country (research grant GIU 21/061).
U.S. Department of Education, ED
Grant: PIBA2018/60
This research was supported by the Basque Government, the Department of Education (project no. PIBA2018/60) and the University of the Basque Country (research grant GIU 21/061).
U.S. Department of Education, ED
This research was supported by the Basque Government, the Department of Education (project no. PIBA2018/60) and the University of the Basque Country (research grant GIU 21/061).
Euskal Herriko Unibertsitatea, EHU
Grant: GIU 21/061
This research was supported by the Basque Government, the Department of Education (project no. PIBA2018/60) and the University of the Basque Country (research grant GIU 21/061).
Euskal Herriko Unibertsitatea, EHU
This research was supported by the Basque Government, the Department of Education (project no. PIBA2018/60) and the University of the Basque Country (research grant GIU 21/061).
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