Lea Ahrens

// DISSERTATION PROJECT

Preconditions, process and consequences of an interest orientation in the choice of apprenticeship positions of school leavers in Germany

The range of dual training places in Germany is market-based and is therefore subject to regional fluctuations in its availability and composition. Such regional factors influence the career choice processes of young people. From the perspective of young people, vocational interests play a key role for occupational choices. Due to the market character of the dual training system, there are also regional differences in the availability of training places, which are compatible to certain vocational interests of young people. In my dissertation project I am investigating the question of what role the regional availability of training places plays in the interest-driven choice of training places.

These three research questions guide the theoretical and empirical analysis:

1. Which vocational interests are covered by regional supply of apprenticeships?
2. Does the occupational structure of the dual training market have an influence on whether young people can develop, implement, and maintain a career choice based on their interests?
3. Does the occupational structure of the regional training market lead to inequalities according to gender and school type in the development and implementation of an interest-driven career choice?

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// ACADEMIC BACKGROUND 

10/2016 – 03/2019
M.Sc Empirical Educational Research, Otto-Friedrich-Universität Bamberg

10/2012 – 09/2016
B.Sc. Psychology, Fernuniversität in Hagen

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// RESEARCH AND PUBLICATIONS

Schels, B., Kleinert, C., Fischer-Browne, M. & Ahrens, L. (2022). Compromises between Occupational Aspirations and VET Occupations—a Contribution to the Reproduction of Social Inequalities?. Zeitschrift für Soziologie, 51(2), 154-173. https://doi.org/10.1515/zfsoz-2022-0011

Ahrens, L., Kleinert, C., Fischer, M., & Schels, B. (2021): When dreams do not become reality. The occupational compromises young people accept in the transition to vocational training, IAB-Forum, 15. Oktober 2021

Ahrens, L., Fischer, M., Kleinert, C., & Schels, B. (2021). Compromises in occupational choice and stability of vocational education and training. In C. Nägele, B.E. Stalder, & M. Weich (Hrsg.), Pathways in Vocational Education and Training and Lifelong Learning. Proceedings of the 4th Crossing Boundaries Conference in Vocational Education and Training (S. 24–31). European

Research Network on Vocational Education and Training, VETNET, University of Applied Sciences and Arts Northwestern Switzerland and Bern University of Teacher Education. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.4603059

Gaede, L. (2017) Pädagogik für Nachhilfe und Lernunterstützung. Fernstudienzentrum Hamburg

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// CONFERENCES AND WORKSHOPS

Ahrens, L.(2023, September). The impact of regional occupational structure on the match between career aspirations and occupational interests of dual VET candidates. Vortrag auf dem „30th annual workshop of the European Research Network on Transitions in Youth (TiY)”. 6. - 9. September 2023, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh

7th International VET Congress.The Future Potential of Vocational Education and Training: Strengthening VET for the next generation. Presentation. “When do compromises in occupational choice threaten the stability of vocational education and training (VET)? The interplay of occupational interests with gender type and prestige” Online. 2022, Februar

Spring meeting by the DGS-Section "Social inequality and social structure analysis" and "Education and training". Presentation. “Social origin and compromises between occupational aspirations and career choices”. Online. 2020, November

International IAB EU-Conference. Labour Market Transitions: Challenges for Public Policies and Research .Presentation. "Compromising in the transition from school to vocational training: social differences in the (mis)match between adolescents' occupational aspirations and decisions. Online. September, 2020

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// EXPERIENCE

Current Position since 08/2023
Research Fellow, University of Bamberg, Labour Studies, Bamberg, Germany

11/2018 - 07/2023
Research Fellow, Leibniz Institute for Educational Trajectories (LIfBi), Bamberg, Germany

03/2016 - 06/2018
Student Research Assistant, Leibniz Institute for Educational Trajectories (LIfBi), Bamberg, Germany