News
International Congress on Vocational and Professional Education and Training in Winterthur (Switzerland)
08.07.14
From 15-18 September 2014 the first international congress on vocational and professional education and training (VPET) will take place in Winterthur, Switzerland. The congress is adressed at an international audience of specialists from economic, political and scientific circles. It is intended to be a platform for a comprehensive three day dialogue on VPET and it will be opened by Mr Guy Ryder, Director-General of the International Labour Organization (ILO), and Federal Councillor Johann N. Schneider-Ammann. Congress attendees will be invited to share their expertise and strengthen the international exchange in the field of VPET.
Federal Councillor Johann N. Schneider-Ammann, Head of the Department of Economic Affairs, Education and Research, has designated 2014 as the year of vocational and professional education and training. There is a good reason for this: Switzerland’s success of low unemployment rates, its competitiveness and innovative strength is, among others, based on its dual education system. Besides having a strongly developed entrepreneurial spirit, Switzerland also has a large pool of well qualified specialists and managers who have started their career within the dual education system.
International networking
The Confederation, the cantons and the private sector are jointly launching an international congress devoted to vocational and professional education and training. The key focus of the congress is on image building, bilateral exchange between industry and politics and on presenting best practices in host companies, that train apprentices, and vocational schools. Several top-class speakers have been invited to talk, including Guy Ryder, Director-General of the International Labour Organization (ILO), and Subramaniam Ramadorai, advisor to the Prime Minister of India in the national council on skill development. Congress participants will also be given a tour of local host companies which train apprentices and vocational schools. Premium partners of the congress are UBS, Rieter and Robert and Ruth Heuberger-Foundation. Location Promotion Winterthur Region is still engaged in discussions with other potential premium partners.
The International Vocational Education and Professional Education and Training Congress will be held from 15 to 18 September 2014 in Winterthur. The congress will be moderated by Beatrice Müller, former Swiss television (SRF) news presenter. At the same time, SwissSkills (the combined Swiss skills competition), which congress participants will also have the opportunity to visit, will be held in Bern.
Winterthur: exemplary venue
The Federal Councillor Schneider-Ammann is not alone in putting vocational and professional education and training high on the agenda this year; the town of Winterthur is also playing a major role in raising awareness among international decision-makers of the importance of training specialists with practical experience. Winterthur has many generations of international experience, for example in the machine industry and insurance sector, and has a number of exemplary host companies and vocational schools.
Organizers and partners:
Swiss Confederation, State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation SERI, Swiss Federal Institute for Vocational Education and Training SFIVET, Canton of Zurich Education Department, Berufsbildungsfonds Kanton Zürich, City of Winterthur, Swiss Association of Commercial Employees, Swiss Construction and Civil Engineering Association SBV, Swiss Insurance Association SVV, Swissmem, Zurich University of Applied Sciences ZHAW, Robert and Ruth Heuberger-Foundation, UBS, Rieter, Axa Winterthur, Swiss Post, Winterthur Tourism, Neue Zürcher Zeitung, Location Promotion Winterthur Region
