受人欢迎的学徒制升级
位于英国南约克郡的先进制造研究中心（AMRC）看起来正是一个现代工业场地的典型——明亮、光洁、通风、整齐。然而在1984年6月，这里经历了英国历史上充满创伤的时刻——奥格雷夫之战，罢工的矿工试图阻止卡车从焦化厂收集物资，与警方发生了冲突。这次事件标志着英国战后工业衰退和严重罢工的开始。
老旧的焦化厂早已烟消云散。在其旧址正在进行一项颇有希望的尝试：为新一代工人创造工作，解决英国古老而荒谬的阶级分化问题。阶级分化的一个重要方面是，大学长久以来被视为做学术课题的地方，要求论文和方程，从事制造业的人们不上大学。但从去年秋天开始，AMRC的学徒能够进修学位了，他们毕业后将获得谢菲尔德大学颁发的机械制造、维修工程或制造技术专业的工学学位。
AMRC是英国政府模仿德国成功经验改革学徒制的一项尝试。一半以上的德国年轻人获得学徒资格证书。德国的青年失业率大大低于其他欧洲国家，其先进的制造技术被广为羡慕。
到目前为止，英国的努力结果好坏参半。自从一项新的复杂税收引入以来，英国的学徒人数今年减少了28%。但是将学徒制转变为学位进修的尝试是成功的：现在大约100所学院和大学都提供这种机会。
制造研究中心这个主意模仿了德国弗劳恩霍夫研究所。除了谢菲尔德的AMRC，英国还有很多高附加值的制造中心，部分由政府出资，地点包括中部的考文垂和苏格兰的斯特拉斯克莱德。美国的政策制定者也很感兴趣，他们于2012年引入了这种方式。
谢菲尔德中心于2001年与波音公司合作创立，劳斯莱斯和空客等领先制造企业也参与其中。该中心不仅作为输送青年人才的渠道，还是成员企业的问题解决研究所。在谢菲尔德中心展出的一个项目是作为劳斯莱斯发动机的特伦特扇盘。中心将这个组件的生产时间压缩了50%。AMRC有超过100个成员公司，最高级别的成员每年缴纳30万英镑（$397,000）并占有一个董事会席位。
主管学徒项目的Nikki ]ones说，中心与雇主合作，确保学徒能满足他们的需要。比如雇主认为受训人员需要接收水力学和气体力学的培训。超过200家企业派遣学徒到中心参加培训，在任何时候都有195人参加的课程。目前1000人左右已经通过培训，前14名学徒将于2021年获得学位资格。
这样的培训对年轻人也很有吸引力。他们可以定期回到企业去磨练技能。课程结束时，98%的受训人员留在了工作岗位上。Nikki ]ones努力使受训成员多样化。工作团队造访当地学校，向孩子们宣传学徒制。超过30%的受训者来自不发达地区。
关注尖端学徒项目是英国早就应做的改变，问题在于其关注程度是否足够。Nikki ]ones说她很乐意将中心的学徒数量翻倍，但相对于每年离开学校的一百万个孩子，这个数量仍然是杯水车薪。
也许比数量更重要的是对学徒制态度的改变。英国人对学术课题的热情总带有维多利亚时代气息。当时的年轻绅士们希望接受全面的教育，以便他们在上流社会中顺畅交流。职业教育也主要集中在法律和医学等专业。从事制造业某种程度上是下等阶层的事。
长久而言，这样的态度产生了太多政治、哲学、经济类学科的毕业生，工程师却太少。这也许能解释英国糟糕的生产率和混乱的脱欧局面：理论太多，实践太少。
原文拾粹：
Degrees of separation
A welcome upgrade to apprenticeships
1、apprenticeship /əˈprentɪʃɪp/ 学徒身份；学徒期
THE Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC) in South Yorkshire, England, looks like the very model of a modern industrial site-bright, shiny,airy and clean. In June 1984 it was the site of a traumatic moment in British history-the Battle of Orgreave, when picketing miners clashed with police as they tried to stop lorries collecting supplies from a coking plant. The incident symbolised Britain's post-war record of industrial decline and bitter strikes.
2、clash with... 与…发生冲突
The old coking plant is long gone. In its place is a promising attempt to create jobs for a new generation of workers, and to tackle an ancient and ridiculous British class divide. An important part of this divide is that universities have long been seen as a place for academic subjects, calling for essays and equations. People who got their hands dirty making stuff did not go to college. But as of last autumn apprentices at the AMRC have been able to study for degree courses. When they graduate they will have an engineering degree from Sheffield University in mechanical manufacture, maintenance engineering or manufacturing technology.
3、 class divide 阶层分化
4、People who got their hands dirty making stuff 从事制造业的人，此处描述很形象
5、as of last autumn 截至去年秋天，as of now 截至目前
The centre is one element of an attempt by the British government to overhaul the apprenticeship system by mimicking German success. More than half of young Germans take an apprenticeship qualification. The youth-unemployment rate in Germany is much lower than in other European countries; its manufacturing prowess is widely envied.
6、overhaul /əʊvə'hɔːl/ 大修，全面检查，改革
7、prowess /'praʊəs/ 深厚的造诣；高超的技艺
The results of the British effort have been mixed so far. The number of Britons taking apprenticeships has dropped by 28% in the year since a complex new levy on businesses was introduced. But turning apprenticeships into degrees has been a success: around 100 colleges and universities are now offering the option.
8、The results of the British effort have been mixed，英国的努力结果好坏参半
9、in the year，年内，当年
The idea of manufacturing research centres is copied from Germany's Fraunhofer institutes. As well as the AMRC in Sheffield, Britain has a range of high-valueadded manufacturing centres, part-funded by the government, including sites at Coventry in the Midlands and Strathclyde in Scotland. American policymakers are also intrigued: they adopted the idea in 2012.
10、 As well as，除了也、又的含义外，还可表示除了...之外的意思
The Sheffield centre was established in 2001 with Boeing as the founding partner. Leading manufacturing firms such as RollsRoyce and Airbus are also involved. The centre is not just a pipeline for young talent; it also acts as a problem-solving institute for member companies. One item on display in Sheffield is a Trent fan disc for a Rolls-Royce engine; the centre reduced the component's production time by 50%. The AMRC has over 100 member companies, with those in the top tier paying £300,000 ($397,000) a year and getting a seat on the board.
11、Leading，先进的，领先的
Nikki ]ones, who runs the apprentice programme, says that the centre works with employers to make sure the apprenticeships meet their needs. To take one example, employers said trainees needed to be taught both hydraulics and pneumatics.Over 300 firms send apprentices to be trained at the site, with 195 on a course at any given time. Around 1,000 have passed through the site; the first 14 degree apprentices will qualify in 2021.
12、To take one example，举个例子
13、at any given time，任何时候
The draw for the youngsters is clear, too. They go back to their employers regularly to hone their skills. When they finish the course, 98% of trainees stay in their jobs. Ms ]ones works hard to find a diverse bunch of recruits. Teams visit local schools to tell the children about apprenticeships, and over 30% of trainees come from disadvantaged areas.
14、draw，吸引力，此处介词使用了for，对...的吸引力
15、hone their skills，磨练他们的技能
A focus on sophisticated apprenticeship programmes is a long-overdue change in Britain. The question is whether it is enough. Ms ]ones says she would happily double the number of trainees at the site, but that would still be a drop in the bucket when half a million children leave school each year.
16、a drop in the bucket，杯水车薪，九牛一毛
Perhaps more important than the numbers is the change in attitude that the degree apprenticeships represent. The British enthusiasm for "academic" subjects has always smacked of the Victorian era, when young gentlemen were expected to get a well-rounded education so they could keep up a conversation in polite society. To the extent that vocational education was promoted, it was in professions like law and medicine. Work in manufacturing was something for the lower classes.
17、smack 拍，打；令人想起，含有…的意味
18、 well-rounded，多才多艺的，面面俱到的
19、vocational education，职业教育
In the long run, that attitude has produced too many graduates in subjects such as PPE (politics, philosophy and economics) and not enough engineers. That may help explain a lot, from Britain's poor productivity record to the Brexit mess. Too much theory, not enough practice.
20、In the long run，长远来看
21、Brexit，脱欧
译者注：本文选自《经济学人》（2018年7月14日）