Читать книгу The Swiss Model of Vocational Education and Training - Markus Mäurer - Страница 7

Swiss VET consists of different programmes at the upper secondary level (ISCED level 3). From an international perspective, three characteristics of Swiss VET are clearly most important:

→VET as the predominant form of education at the upper secondary level

Looking at all new entrants to upper secondary education, a large majority of them (72% in 2013) start a VET programme. If one focuses only on the qualifications achieved at this level of education, the VET share is even higher (76% in 2013).²

→Dual-track VET as the predominant type of VET

Though school-based VET plays a certain role, more than 85% of VET students at the upper secondary level enrol in dual-track VET. This implies that they undergo apprenticeship training at a host company – accounting for the majority of total time spent in VET – and go to school part-time, in many cases 1 to 1.5 days per week. The pervasive role of dual-track VET is only possible thanks to those approx. 40% of all companies in the Swiss economy that get involved in training VET students.

→Broad range of occupations

At upper secondary level, there are VET programmes in approx. 230 occupations which prepare students to achieve two types of VET qualification (i.e. VET certificate and VET diploma). These programmes cover all sectors of the Swiss economy – including construction, engineering, health and social sectors, and banking – and they are designed in strong cooperation with the representatives of these sectors. The programmes cater for all kinds of students (including high achievers) who enrol in the more demanding programmes (and also have the option of passing the Swiss Federal Vocational Baccalaureate), as well as those who have difficulties at school. Still, only ten occupations account for over 50% of all entrants into upper secondary VET.

Work-based learning of a VET student in a large mechanical engineering company