School-business collaboration in the training of students of the Technical Baccalaureate: potential, obstacles and challenges

Abstract

Introduction: This research was developed at the Fiscal Educational Unit of Ecuador, an Amazonian country. It carried out an exploratory study on the collaboration of companies in the training of Technical Baccalaureate students, based on the role assigned to them in the Workplace Training Module (FCT) and the verification of shortcomings and limitations. In this sense, the following scientific problem was formulated: What are the potentialities, obstacles, and challenges in school-company collaboration for the training of Technical Baccalaureate students? The objective was to identify potentialities, obstacles, and challenges in school-company collaboration to improve the process. Materials and methods: Theoretical methods (analysis-synthesis and induction and deduction) and empirical methods and techniques (documentary analysis, interviews, and surveys) were used. Results: The results corroborated the existence of limitations in school-company collaboration and the potentialities of the latter to contribute to the training process. These were verified through consultation with specialists. Discussion: Based on the study, the company is recognized as an entity with educational potential, and the high school as an entity with productive potential. Both complement each other, hence the need to strengthen training through the school-company relationship. Conclusions: The study conducted by the Ecuadorian Amazon Country Fiscal Educational Unit demonstrates that there are still shortcomings in the school-company relationship. Therefore, it is necessary to identify opportunities, obstacles, and challenges for establishing new agreements that integrate the interests of professional profiles and the needs of companies, so that each student becomes a producer who learns through productive practice.