OVERVIEW
7.1.1 V
ocatio
nal an
d Pro
fession
al Edu
cation
and
Trainin
g in
Switzerlan
d / Facts an
d Fig
ures 2020 / O
verview
The most popular form of upper-secondary level education and trainingCareer prospectsDual-track approach to learningPermeabilityPrinciple of training for a specific professional activityLabour-market focusCollective governanceInnovations and further developmentsQualityEfficiencyOpenness to diversity
Vocational and Professional Education and Training in Switzerland
OVERVIEW COMPLETION RATES FOR 2018*
7.1.2 V
ocatio
nal an
d Pro
fessio
nal Ed
ucatio
n an
d Train
ing
in Sw
itzerland
/ Facts and
Figu
res 2020 / O
verview / C
om
pletio
n rates fo
r 2018
Upper-secondary level: vocational education and training Total Women Men
Federal VET Diploma 62'596 28'348 34'248
Federal VET Certificate 6'440 2'770 3'670
Federal Vocational Baccalaureate 14'228 6'667 7'561
University Aptitude Test 1'003 462 541
Tertiary level: professional education Total Women Men
Study programme at professional education institution 9'112 4'565 4'547
Level-two federal professional examination 2'840 778 2'062
Level-one federal professional examination 14'575 5'578 8'997
Professional education not recognised by the Confederation 271 193 78
Vocational and Professional Education and Training in Switzerland Source: Federal Statistical Office
* These figures refer to the number of qualifications awarded, not the number of holders (some of whom may hold several qualifications).
SWISS VPET SYSTEM
7.2.1 V
ocatio
nal an
d Professio
nal Ed
ucatio
n and Train
ing in Sw
itzerland / Facts an
d Figu
res 2020 / Swiss V
PE
T system
Vocational and Professional Education and Training in Switzerland
TRANSITIONAL OPTIONS
JOB-
RELA
TED
CO
NTI
NU
ING
ED
UCA
TIO
N A
ND
TRA
ININ
G
JOB-
RELA
TED
CO
NTI
NU
ING
ED
UCA
TIO
N A
ND
TRA
ININ
G
TERT
IARY
LEV
EL
PROFESSIONAL EDUCATION UNIVERSITIES
UNIVERSITIES FEDERAL INSTITUTES OF TECHNOLOGY
UNIVERSITIES OF APPLIED SCIENCES
COLLEGES OF HIGHER EDUCATIONFEDERAL EXAMINATIONS
Master's degreeBachelor's degree
Master's degreeBachelor's degree
Advanced Federal Diplomaof Higher Education
Advanced Federal Diplomaof Higher EducationFederal Diplomaof Higher Education
PhD/doctorateMaster's degreeBachelor's degree
UNIVERSITIES OF TEACHER EDUCATION
COMPULSORY EDUCATION
UPP
ER-S
ECO
ND
ARY
LEV
EL
VOCATIONAL EDUCATION AND TRAINING GENERAL EDUCATION SCHOOLS
Federal Diploma of Vocational Education and Training
Federal VocationalBaccalaureate
Federal Certificate of Vocational Education and Training
SPECIALISED SCHOOLS
HOST COMPANIES, VOCATIONAL SCHOOLS, BRANCH COURSES
HOST COMPANIES, VOCATIONAL SCHOOLS, BRANCH COURSES
Baccalaureate
BACCALAUREATE SCHOOLS
SpecialisedBaccalaureate
Specialised School Certificate
SBFI 2016
Usual pathway Possible pathway
SWISS VPET SYSTEMVOCATIONAL EDUCATION AND TRAINING (VET)
7.2.2
Vo
cation
al and Pro
fession
al Edu
cation an
d Trainin
g in Switzerlan
d / Facts and Fig
ures 2020 / Sw
iss VPET system
/ Vo
cation
al ed
ucatio
n a
nd
trainin
g
Vocational and Professional Education and Training in Switzerland
Upper-secondary level: vocational education and training (VET)• Two-year VET programmes for the Federal VET Certificate• Three-year or four-year VET programmes for the Federal
VET Diploma • Federal Vocational Baccalaureate (FVB)
Tertiary level: universities of applied sciences
Tertiary level: professional education• Federal professional examinations level 1 and level 2• Study programmes at professional education institutions
Transitional options between lower- and upper secondary level
Job-related continuing education and training
ONE MISSION – THREE PARTNERS
7.3.1
Vo
cation
al and Pro
fession
al Edu
cation an
d Trainin
g in Switzerlan
d / Facts and Fig
ures 2020 / O
ne m
ission
– thre
e partn
ers
Vocational and Professional Education and Training in Switzerland
Confederation
Strategic management and development
Cantons
Implementation and supervision
Professional organisations
Training content and apprenticeships
ONE MISSION – THREE PARTNERSCONFEDERATION
• Providing quality assurance and further development of the Swiss VPET system
• Ensuring comparability and transparency of courses throughout Switzerland
• Enacting around 240 VET ordinances
• Recognising regulations for around 400 federal examinations as well as 40 core syllabuses for study programmes at professional education institutions
• Recognising preparatory courses for the federal vocational baccalaureate examina-tion and organising this examination
• Recognition of non-formal continuing education and training programmes at professional education institutions
7.3.2
Vo
cation
al and Pro
fession
al Edu
cation an
d Trainin
g in Switzerlan
d / Facts and Fig
ures 2020 / O
ne m
ission – th
ree partn
ers / Co
nfe
de
ration
Vocational and Professional Education and Training in Switzerland
• Recognising training courses for teachers, trainers, instructors and
examiners within the VET and profes-sional education sectors as well as training courses for vocational, educational and career guidance counsellors
• Recognising foreign qualifications
• Contributing funding to cover one-fourth of public sector expenditure for the VPET system
• Promoting innovation and support specific activities in the public interest
Strategic management and development
ONE MISSION – THREE PARTNERSPROFESSIONAL ORGANISATIONS
Training content and apprenticeships• Establishing the training content of VET programmes and study
programmes at professional education institutions
• Establishing national qualification procedures for VET programmes as well as for level-1 and level-2 federal professional examinations
• Creating apprenticeship positions
• Imparting professional competences at tertiary level (professional education)
• Developing new training courses
• Organising branch courses
• Managing VPET funds
Vocational and Professional Education and Training in Switzerland
7.3.3
Vo
cation
al and Pro
fession
al Edu
cation an
d Trainin
g in Switzerlan
d / Facts and Fig
ures 2020 / O
ne m
ission – th
ree partn
ers
/ Profe
ssion
al org
an
isation
s
ONE MISSION – THREE PARTNERSCANTONS
7.3.4
Vo
cation
al and Pro
fession
al Edu
cation an
d Trainin
g in Switzerlan
d / Facts and Fig
ures 2020 / O
ne m
ission – th
ree partn
ers / Ca
nto
ns
Implementation and supervision• Implementing the Federal Vocational and Professional Education
and Training Act
• Supervising apprenticeships, vocational schools and professional education institutions
• Providing vocational, educational and career guidance services
• Creating options that prepare young people for enrolment in VET programmes
• Issuing permits authorising host companies to take on apprentices and/or trainees
• Apprenticeship marketing
• Providing training to workplace trainers at host companies
Vocational and Professional Education and Training in Switzerland
LEARNING LOCATIONS
7.4 V
ocatio
nal an
d Professio
nal Ed
ucatio
n and Train
ing in Sw
itzerland / Facts an
d Figu
res 2020 / Learnin
g lo
cation
s
Upper-secondary level: vocational education and training (VET)
• Workplace training at host companies• Classroom instruction at vocational schools• Branch courses at branch training centres
Tertiary level: professional education
• Preparation for federal professional examinations• Study programmes at professional education institutions
Tertiary level: Universities of applied sciences
Vocational and Professional Education and Training in Switzerland
VOCATIONAL EDUCATION AND TRAININGENROLMENT IN UPPER-SECONDARY LEVEL IN 2018*
7.5.1 V
ocatio
nal an
d Pro
fessio
nal Ed
ucatio
n an
d Train
ing
in Sw
itzerland
/ Facts and
Figu
res 2020 / V
ocatio
nal e
du
cation
and
trainin
g
/ Enro
lme
nt in
up
pe
r-seco
nd
ary level in
2018*
Vocational and Professional Education and Training in Switzerland Source: Federal Statistical Office
* Dual-track and school-based VET programmes, incl. trade schools and IT schools, excl. non-formal two year apprenticeships.
Dual-track VET programme
School-based VET programme
Baccalaureate school orspecialised school
29'653
65'6857'126
VOCATIONAL EDUCATION AND TRAININGTHE TEN MOST FREQUENTLY CHOSEN OCCUPATIONS
7.5.2 V
ocatio
nal an
d Pro
fessio
nal Ed
ucatio
n an
d Train
ing
in Sw
itzerland
/ Facts and
Figu
res 2020 / V
ocatio
nal e
du
cation
and
trainin
g
/ Th
e ten m
ost fre
qu
ently ch
osen
occu
patio
ns
1 Commercial employee (all profiles) 13'0672 Health care worker 4'8143 Retail clerk 4'3954 Social care worker 3'8165 IT technician 2'0476 Electrician 1'9447 Logistician 1'7338 Cook 1'5899 Draughtsman 1'58010 Retail assistant 1'546
Vocational and Professional Education and Training in Switzerland Source: Federal Statistical Office
Entrant 2018*
* Including school-based VET programme
GUIDANCE AND SUPPORT FOR YOUNG PEOPLE
7.6 V
ocatio
nal an
d Pro
fessio
nal Ed
ucatio
n an
d Train
ing
in Sw
itzerland
/ Facts and
Figu
res 2020 / G
uid
ance an
d su
pp
ort fo
r you
ng
peo
ple
Vocational and Professional Education and Training in Switzerland
• Careers advice and counselling• Apprenticeship vacancies bulletin• Transitional options from lower- to upper secondary• Coaching and mentoring• VET Case Management• Apprenticeship placement services• Individual guidance• SwissSkills, EuroSkills and WorldSkills competitions• Support options for young people
FEDERAL VOCATIONAL BACCALAUREATEFEDERAL VOCATIONAL BACCALAUREATE UPTAKE
7.7.1 V
ocatio
nal an
d Pro
fessio
nal Ed
ucatio
n an
d Train
ing
in Sw
itzerland
/ Facts and
Figu
res 2020 / Fe
deral vo
cation
al baccalau
reate /
Fe
deral V
ocatio
nal B
accalaureate u
ptake
Vocational and Professional Education and Training in Switzerland Source: Federal Statistical Office
0%
3%
6%
9%
12%
15%
18%
2014 2015 20172016
15,714,8 15,1 15,4
7.7.2 V
ocatio
nal an
d Pro
fessio
nal Ed
ucatio
n an
d Train
ing
in Sw
itzerland
/ Facts and
Figu
res 2020 / Fe
deral vo
cation
al baccalau
reate
/ Fro
m fe
deral vo
cation
al baccalau
reate to a u
niversity o
f app
lied
sciences
Vocational and Professional Education and Training in Switzerland Source: Federal Statistical Office
FEDERAL VOCATIONAL BACCALAUREATEFROM FEDERAL VOCATIONAL BACCALAUREATE TO A UNIVERSITY OF APPLIED SCIENCES
• Engineering, architecture, life sciences
• Nature, agriculture and food
• Business and services
• Design and art
• Health and social care
UNIVERSITIES OF APPLIED SCIENCESUAS QUALIFICATIONS AWARDED BY FIELD OF STUDY AND LEVEL, 2018
7.8 V
ocatio
nal an
d Pro
fession
al Edu
cation
and
Trainin
g in
Switzerlan
d / Facts an
d Fig
ures 2020 / U
niversities o
f app
lied scien
ces
/ UA
S qu
alification
s award
ed b
y field o
f stud
y and
level, 2018
Vocational and Professional Education and Training in Switzerland Source: Federal Statistical Office
Field of study Bachelor MasterArchitecture, Construction and Planning 935 174Engineering and IT 2'509 279Chemistry and Life Sciences 454 158Agriculture and Forestry 149 0Business and Services 4'316 869Design 681 241Sports 39 24Music, Theatre and Other Arts 841 1'177Applied Linguistics 118 47Social Work 1'735 88Applied Psychology 135 88Health 1'751 112
Total 13'663 3'257
7.9.1 V
ocatio
nal an
d Pro
fessio
nal Ed
ucatio
n an
d Train
ing
in Sw
itzerland
/ Facts and
Figu
res 2020 / V
ocatio
nal q
ualificatio
ns fo
r adu
lts
/ Nu
mb
er of vo
cation
al qu
alification
s award
ed
to p
erson
s age
d 2
4 and
old
er in 2
018*
VOCATIONAL QUALIFICATIONS FOR ADULTSNUMBER OF VOCATIONAL QUALIFICATIONS AWARDED TO PERSONS AGED 25 AND OLDER IN 2018*
Vocational and Professional Education and Training in Switzerland
* Federal Statistical Office. Calculations: SERI.
Age 25-29 30-39 40+ Total
Completion of regular VET programme 2'826 1'105 339 4'270Advanced placement in VET programme 1'254 563 379 2'196Direct access to qualification procedure 482 903 874 2'259Validation of nonformal and informal learning 68 242 390 700
Total 4'630 2'813 1'982 9'425
7.9.2 V
ocatio
nal an
d Pro
fession
al Edu
cation
and
Trainin
g in
Switzerlan
d / Facts an
d Fig
ures 2020 / V
ocatio
nal q
ualificatio
ns fo
r adu
lts / Ten
mo
st freq
uen
tly cho
sen field
s for p
erson
s age
d 25 an
d o
lder se
eking
vocatio
nal q
ualificatio
ns in
2018*
VOCATIONAL QUALIFICATIONS FOR ADULTSTEN MOST FREQUENTLY CHOSEN FIELDS FOR PERSONS AGED 25 AND OLDER SEEKING VOCATIONAL QUALIFICATIONS IN 2018*
Vocational and Professional Education and Training in Switzerland
Nursing and Obstetrics 1'233Social work and Counselling 1'095Business Administration 1'035Wholesale and Retail Trade 821Civil Engineering 769Hotels, Restaurants and Catering 520Housekeeping Services 508Mechanical Engineering and Metalworking 453Plant Cultivation and Animal Breeding 391Electricity and Power 384
OCCUPATIONS FIELD TOTAL
* Federal Statistical Office. Calculations: SERI.
PROFESSIONAL EDUCATIONPATHWAY LEADING TO PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS
7.10.1 V
ocatio
nal an
d Pro
fessio
nal Ed
ucatio
n an
d Train
ing
in Sw
itzerland
/ Facts and
Figu
res 2020 / Pro
fessio
nal e
du
cation
/ Pathw
ay leadin
g to
pro
fession
al qu
alification
s
Vocational and Professional Education and Training in Switzerland Source: Federal Statistical Office
Qualification awarded by professional education institutionAdvanced Federal Diploma of Higher EducationFederal Diploma of Higher EducationOther
Total
Thou
sand 2015 20172016
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
2018
26‘4
55
14‘8
35
8‘45
12‘
707
462
26‘6
90
14‘4
02
8‘43
03‘
473
385
26‘4
95
14‘4
48
8‘74
72‘
954
346
26‘7
98
14‘5
75
9‘11
22‘
840
271
PROFESSIONAL EDUCATIONTHE TEN MOST FREQUENTLY TAKEN FEDERAL PROFESSIONAL EXAMINATIONS (LEVEL 1) IN 2018
7.10.2 V
ocatio
nal an
d Pro
fession
al Edu
cation
and
Trainin
g in
Switzerlan
d / Facts an
d Fig
ures 2020 / Pro
fession
al edu
cation
/ The ten
mo
st frequ
ently taken
federal p
rofes- sio
nal exam
inatio
ns (level 1) in
2018
Vocational and Professional Education and Training in Switzerland Source: Federal Statistical Office
Technical sales specialist 768Human resources specialist 721Police officer 655Social insurance specialist 590Finance and accountancy specialist 564Marketing specialist 557Trainer 475Sales representative 380Property manager 351Electrical safety specialist 320
OCCUPATION TOTAL
PROFESSIONAL EDUCATIONTHE TEN MOST FREQUENTLY TAKEN FEDERAL PROFESSIONAL EXAMINATIONS (LEVEL 2) IN 2018
7.10.3 V
ocatio
nal an
d Pro
fessio
nal Ed
ucatio
n an
d Train
ing
in Sw
itzerland
/ Facts and
Figu
res 2020 / Pro
fessio
nal e
du
cation
/ T
he ten
mo
st freq
uen
tly taken fe
deral p
rofes- sio
nal exam
inatio
ns (level 2) in
2018
Vocational and Professional Education and Training in Switzerland Source: Federal Statistical Office
Auditor 236Electrician 202Sales manager 155Naturopath 148Chief Accountant and Comptroller 132Master farmer 125Marketing manager 99Real estate fiduciary 84Construction manager 84Complementary medicine therapist 80
OCCUPATION TOTAL
PROFESSIONAL EDUCATIONTOP TEN STUDY PROGRAMMES COMPLETED AT PROFESSIONAL EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS* 2018
7.10.4 V
ocatio
nal an
d Pro
fession
al Edu
cation
and
Trainin
g in
Switzerlan
d / Facts an
d Fig
ures 2020 / Pro
fession
al edu
cation
/ To
p ten
stud
y pro
gram
mes co
mp
leted
at pro
fes-sion
al ed
ucatio
n in
stitutio
ns* 2
018
Vocational and Professional Education and Training in Switzerland Source: Federal Statistical Office
* Formerly and newly recognised programmes are combined.
Nursing 1'904Business management 1'132Social pedagogy 599Hotels, restaurants and catering 430Business processes 417Mechanical engineering 402Business informatics 341IT 329Electrical engineering 309Child care 309
STUDY PROGRAMME TOTAL
PROFESSIONAL EDUCATIONCOMPLETED TERTIARY-LEVEL STUDY PROGRAMMES BY ECONOMIC BRANCH 2018
7.10.5 V
ocatio
nal an
d Pro
fessio
nal Ed
ucatio
n an
d Train
ing
in Sw
itzerland
/ Facts and
Figu
res 2020 / Pro
fessio
nal e
du
cation
/ Co
mp
leted
tertiary-level stud
y pro
gram
mes b
y econ
om
ic bran
ch 2
018
Vocational and Professional Education and Training in Switzerland Source: Federal Statistical Office
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
24,5
18,1 2,0 30,5
11,1 1,9
22,9
14,9
10,8
11,0 61,4
20,4 4,9 43,0
12,6 2,4 27,7
16,2 5,8 53,6
20,4 2,9 39,4
10,5 69,1
16,6
1,0
10,7
20,2
0,6
2,5
30,2
2,8
25,2
0,9
Industry
Transport; energy and water supply
Construction
Trade, repairs
Hotel, restaurant and catering
Financial services
Land and housing; services
Public administration and education
Health and social care
Other
Information and communication;art and entertainment
Self-employed scientific and technical services
Professional education Professional education and higher education Higher education
Vocational and Professional Education and Training in Switzerland
SWISS VPET FUNDINGCOSTS AND BENEFITS BY DURATION OF TRAINING IN CHF, SURVEY YEAR 2016*
7.11.1 V
ocatio
nal an
d Pro
fession
al Edu
cation
and
Trainin
g in
Switzerlan
d / Facts an
d Fig
ures 2020 / Sw
iss VPE
T fun
din
g
/ C
osts an
d b
enefits b
y du
ration
of train
ing
in C
HF, su
rvey year 2016*
0
30’000
60’000
90’000
120’000
150’000
Two-year VETprogramme**
Gross costs Productive output Net benefits
Three-year VET programme*
Four-year VET programme*
54‘620
83‘420
115‘330123‘970
93‘860
64‘780
10‘170 10‘430 8‘630
* Gehret A., Aepli M., Kuhn A. und Schweri J. (2019), Lohnt sich die Lehrlingsausbildung für die Betriebe? EHB.
SWISS VPET FUNDINGCOST/BENEFIT RATIO FOR SWISS COMPANIES INVOLVED IN VET PROGRAMMES
SURVEY YEAR 2016*
0 1 2 3 4 5 6
Productive output by learners
Gross costs
Net benefits
5,6 Mrd. CHF
5 Mrd. CHF
0,6 Mrd. CHF
7.11.2 V
ocatio
nal an
d Pro
fessio
nal Ed
ucatio
n an
d Train
ing
in Sw
itzerland
/ Facts and
Figu
res 2020 / Sw
iss VPE
T fun
din
g
/ Co
st/ben
efit ratio fo
r Swiss co
mp
anies in
volve
d in
VE
T pro
gram
mes, su
rvey year 2016*
Vocational and Professional Education and Training in Switzerland
* Gehret A., Aepli M., Kuhn A. und Schweri J. (2019), Lohnt sich die Lehrlingsausbildung für die Betriebe? EHB.
Vocational and Professional Education and Training in Switzerland
VPET AT INTERNATIONAL LEVEL
7.12.1
Vo
cation
al and
Profe
ssion
al Edu
cation
and
Trainin
g in
Switzerlan
d / Facts an
d Fig
ure
s 2020 / VPE
T at intern
ation
al level
International cooperation in vocational education and training (IC-VPET)• www.sbfi.admin.ch/ibbz• www.ibbz.admin.ch
Transfer of expertise• www.vpet-congress.ch
EU education programmes• www.movetia.ch/en
National Qualifications Framework (NQF VPET)• www.nqr-berufsbildung.ch
Recognition of foreign vocational and professional qualifications• www.sbfi.admin.ch/diploma
Pursuing international cooperation in VET throughinternational organisations• www.sbfi.admin.ch/eu_berufsbildung• www.sbfi.admin.ch/oecd_e
EuroSkills and WorldSkills competitions• www.swiss-skills.ch
Vocational and Professional Education and Training in Switzerland
7.12.2
Vo
cation
al and
Professio
nal Ed
ucatio
n an
d Train
ing
in Sw
itzerland
/ Facts and
Figu
res 2020 / VPE
T at intern
ation
al level
/ Key fig
ures fo
r intern
ation
al VPET activities
Exchange and mobility within the VET sector Approved budget 2019 for Swiss participation in EU-sponsored traineeships abroad (Leonardo da Vinci) CHF 6,6m Number of young people doing traineeships abroad in 2019 1 '573 Outgoing 1 '356 Incoming 217
Swiss performance at last three WorldSkills competitions Kazan 2019 4th place Abu Dhabi 2017 2nd place São Paulo 2015 4th place
Swiss performance at last three EuroSkills competitions Budapest 2018 1st place Göteburg 2016 1st place Lille 2014 4th place
Number of countries represented at the International VPET Congress 2018 752016 76 2014 70
VPET AT INTERNATIONAL LEVELKEY FIGURES FOR INTERNATIONAL VPET ACTIVITIES
VPET RESEARCH
7.13 V
ocatio
nal an
d Pro
fessio
nal Ed
ucatio
n an
d Train
ing
in Sw
itzerland
/ Facts and
Figu
res 2020 / V
PET research
Vocational and Professional Education and Training in Switzerland
Legal mandate
Objectives
Support instruments
Vocational and Professional Education and Training in Switzerland
USEFUL LINKS
7.14 V
ocatio
nal an
d Pro
fessio
nal Ed
ucatio
n an
d Train
ing
in Sw
itzerland
/ Facts and
Figu
res 2020 / U
seful lin
ks
Swiss Coordination Centre for Research in Education SCCRE• www.skbf-csre.ch
VPET-related magazine and newsletter • www.panorama.ch
Swiss education information platform• www.educa.ch
Document server for education• www.edudoc.ch
Eurydice – European Information Network• eacea.ec.europa.eu/national-policies/ eurydice
Information about VPET from SERI• www.sbfi.admin.ch
SERI documentation• www.sbfi.admin.ch/pubbb
The VPET-campaign• www.berufsbildungplus.ch
VPET website• www.berufsbildung.ch
Glossary of Vocational and Professional Education and Training• www.lex.berufsbildung.ch
Swiss education statistics• www.education-stat.admin.ch