Abstract
Vocational Education in Switzerland - Characteristics, Challenges and Strategies. Some reflections on structures, transitions, supply and demand, and normative aspects.
The first part consits of a general description of the Educational System in Switzerland with a focus on vocational education and training. The Swiss Educational System is highly differentiated and not fully permeable, shows very different enrolments and is mainly public. Secondary level II is mainly divided into full-time schools on the one hand and vocational education on the other hand. Approximately 65% of young people after secondary level I begin vocational education. Vocational education is best characterised by a combination of general education and vocational training/education and is mostly run through a cooperation of enterprises and vocational schools (dual system, apprenticeship system).
In the second part an analysis of supply and demand in the apprenticeship market is carried out. The apprenticeship market faces several quantitative and qualitative problems and combined efforts from all stakeholders are necessary to reach an equilibrium. Some measures, facilitating the first transition from compulsory schooling to apprenticeship and the second transition from apprenticeship to work, are shown.
In the final part some normative societal and educational aspects are discussed and some reflections on the present situation and ongoing changes are undertaken, ending with final conclusions on different aspects of the vocational education.