AsA Flex

Project lead
Prof. Dr. Ralph Conrads
Prof. Dr. Thomas Freiling

Project staff
Valeska C. Walter (M.A.)
Ian Grondey (M.A.)

Project duration:
2022 – 2028

Since 2022, the HdBA has been carrying out concomitant research on "Assistierten Ausbildung flexibel" (assisted flexible training)  in cooperation with the National Employment Agency. This is a continuation of the previous research into the achieving of goals and the implementation of the "old" assisted training in the pilot phase up to 2020.

The AsA flex was modified partly on the basis of several research steps by the HdBA since 2017 and the recommendations for action which were derived from these. The combining of the AsA with the funding tool for training-related assistance (ausbildungsbegleitenden Hilfen - abH) leads to an expansion of the target group and of flexible as well as individual combinable learning, support and concomitant services.

Assisted Training (flexibel) has represented a lasting support for young people since the autumn of 2021. Standardised in §§ 74, 75, 75a SBG III (Social Act III), Assisted Training under the name AsA flex, is especially designed for the target group of young adults; people who, according to § 74 para. 3 SGB III without support

• are not able to take on or continue with an apprenticeship or would have difficulties completing training, or
• for personal reasons
• cannot take on a further training programme after the premature termination of a previous one or
• are unable to establish or consolidate a working relationship after completing an apprenticeship with the support of Assisted Training.

Support can start both before beginning training in a pre-phase and during or after the acceptance of training in a training-related phase . AsA flex also provides support services for companies in relation to in-company training .

The underlying concept with this approach is not intended as an alternative to training on the primary labour market. This programme is carried out in recognised integrated degree professions. AsA flex addresses the dualism of professional support on the one hand, and the autonomy of action of companies with trainees and young adults on the other.

• The long term perspective of AsA flex is to be analysed regarding the combination and interrelationships of intervention services in the varying levels of required support as well as the influence of implementation modalities and the achieving of goals.
• The effects of the measures and the assessment of sustainable goal achievement are examined at participant level based on biographical intervention records.
• Insights into friction in the tendering process and in implementation and staffing processes which impact progress and goal achievement are obtained so as to generate information on how to optimise processes.

The formative concomitant study has been set for 2022 to 2027 and pursues a mixed-methods-approach:

• Qualitative-biographical longitudinal study:
  Qualitative study of career biographies through guided interviews with young participants from their first moment with AsA flex.
• Qualitative, cross-sectional design:
  Qualitative surveys focused on examining tender and invoicing procedures, combined with a quantative questionnaire survey.

The formative concomitant research offers the advantage of forward-looking, proactive concept development as well as the evaluation of goal achievement right from the beginning.

The HdBA and business division AM 4 - Product Development Support - of the National Employment Agency head office (BA) held a symposium on 29th September 2022 entitled "Training Support - individual assistance based on the example of Assisted Training (AsA flex)" ("Ausbildungsbegleitung – individuelle Förderung am Beispiel der Assistierten Ausbildung (AsA flex)") on the restructuring of the AsA flex, looking back at what has been achieved so far and looking ahead at the further development of this new core tool in training support at the BA.