Vocational training schools and its relationship with the community: perspective of trainers and trainees

Abstract

This paper analyzes the relationship between vocational training centers and its environment from the point of view of trainers and trainees. This is part of an investigation whose final aim was to establish the contribution of vocational training to local and regional development. In this sense, it was applied a descriptive study with a mixed methodology, that includes 2 different questionnaires designed ad hoc and aimed for both trainers and trainees from a county located in Galicia (Spain). A total of 267 trainees from middle and upper vocational training fulfilled the questionnaires and also 38 of his trainers too. After the survey, it appears that there is a rare contact between vocational training centers and other community organizations, what means that schools and trainees seem to be isolated from their closest context. According to the literature reviewed, this isolation involves an obstacle to overcome if it is wanted to contribute from the vocational schools, to labor insertion and local and regional development.