Is it better for mold design apprentices to go to mold factories or training institutions to study? Are there any factories that recruit apprentices in mold design?

You'd better have some relevant academic background. If you don't have a little foundation, you'd better go to school first, or at least go to a training institution to lay the foundation. Then go to the mold factory to improve while working. General mold factories are divided into different types, and the types of mold factories are distinguished according to the process, such as casting mold factory, injection mold factory, stamping mold factory, forging mold factory and so on. Even casting mold factories have their own emphasis, such as sand casting mold factory, mold factory specializing in die casting mold, mold factory specializing in EPC, etc. It can be said that there is no omnipotent mold factory. Therefore, if you want to learn mold design, you'd better set a process direction first. You can't master all the molds, it's better to be versatile. The owner of the mold factory hopes that skilled designers can design when they come, so that they can create wealth for the factory from the beginning. Under normal circumstances, the mold factory does not recruit mold design apprentices unless you are a close relative of the boss. Ordinary apprentices can also create some value for the boss, but if they are apprentices of mold design, they can't create any value for the boss during their study. So it is difficult for you to find a kind boss to recruit you as an apprentice in mold design.