Improving Access to Better Job Opportunities for Students in an Apprenticeship-Based High School Program

Abstract

Dual-apprenticeship high school programs in Mexico continue to be a work in progress. This project analyzes the characteristics of the dual program in the state of Nuevo Leon and the graduating the graduate students’ work perspectives concerning higher-income jobs after graduation. The main goal of this project is to help the Dual Institute identify factors of the Dual Program that contribute to access to higher-income jobs across the technical careers in locations in the Mexican state of Nuevo Leon. The survey was conducted online on 93 graduate students from the dual program living in Nuevo Leon. Of the 17 locations that offer the program in the state, nine were able to participate because they collected graduating students’ contact information. 9 participants who reported earned more 10,000, working full time participated in an interview in addition to taking the survey. The participants graduated from different locations and technical courses. Descriptive and inferential analyses supported the following findings: (1) A personalized learning plan and a tutor who provides feedback and evaluation are indicators of a program that better prepares students to access higher-income jobs; (2) graduates see themselves as students and workers in companies with adequate working conditions and opportunities to learn and move forward in their careers; (3) Higher-earning graduates are more oriented towards advancing their careers and education. The two courses that provide the most opportunities to access higher-income jobs are Machines and Mechatronics; and (4) work experience and real-life skills in the workplace are the two main benefits of graduating from the dual program.