Quality of Practical Training Phases as a Part of Dual Study Programmes from the Students' Perspective - Results of a Long-term Study from Germany

Abstract

The practical training phases in cooperating companies and institutions are an important part of dual study programmes, enabling students to develop professional knowledge and skills. The quality of these phases and their influence on student satisfaction have been examined repeatedly in annual student surveys at Baden-Wuerttemberg Cooperative State University (DHBW). The surveys analysed quality aspects and their correlations with satisfaction with the dual study programme. Current findings show clear differences between fields of study: students from technical and economics programmes rate the practical phases more positively than students from social work and health programmes. Across all fields, the integration of theory and practice is rated comparatively negatively, while professional training and integration into operational processes are rated particularly positively. High-quality supervision and intensive support are identified as key factors associated with satisfaction. Professional fit, knowledge transfer, and collegial exchange show strong correlations with satisfaction, whereas material conditions and time management are less influential. Students who are dissatisfied with the quality of practical training are more likely to consider changing or dropping out, whereas satisfied students more often plan to work for their training company in the long term. Overall, the results highlight the importance of intensive support, improved integration of theory and practice, and the creation of learning spaces for increasing satisfaction and retaining students in the long term.