This book examines modularization in the German system of initial vocational education and training. After examining the underlying concept of modularization (providing training through self-contained units that can be combined in different ways), the book presents an overview of modularization as it occurs in Spain, Scotland, France, and the Netherlands before examining in detail the National Vocational Qualification (NVQ) framework in England and Wales. The book maintains that the strengths and weaknesses of NVQs (and their functional position within the education and training system) are particularly significant to the strategy of modularization in German initial training that the book proposes. This strategy recommends the evolutionary development of the elements of occupational profiles into self-contained modules and identifies the ways in which these elements have to be transformed in order to fulfill the function of modules in a modularized training system. The book advocates that the restructured system may incorporate modules developed in cooperation with European partners and so link to other national training systems. Eight appendixes provide information about the concept of modularization and examples of how it is being implemented in other countries. The book lists 285 references and contains a glossary of 37 German terms and a list of 59 acronyms. (KC)