News & Trends

Education System: Is Switzerland a Futuremover?

09.07.2024 3 min

THE SWISS EDUCATION SYSTEM HAS A WORLDWIDE REPUTATION OF BEING A PRIME EXAMPLE of excellence and innovative strength. What does it need to also be prepared for the future?

Switzerland has excellent universities such as ETH Zurich and EPFL Lausanne, which contribute to global research and development through international networking and support innovation and critical thinking through interdisciplinary degree programmes.

Dual Education System Delivers Success

However, the success of the Swiss education system does not start here, quasi with the elite, but directly at grassroots level: with the dual education system. It combines theoretical and practical training, which facilitates the transition from school to work. Close cooperation between educational institutions and industry also ensures that training meets the current needs of the labour market.

We need to
constantly expand
our knowledge and
integrate it into
innovations.
Prof. em. Dr Alexander J.B. Zehnder
Former President of the ETH Board

Inclusion and Equal Opportunities

Strict quality controls will further ensure that the high level is maintained in the longer term. At the same time, there are efforts in place to ensure equal educational opportunities for everyone, regardless of their economic and social background. Switzerland is therefore in an excellent position to evolve its education system for the future. It must not rest on its laurels.

Requirements for a Future-Proof Education System

We must lay the foundations for tomorrow to ensure that education remains a Swiss quality seal in the future too. The labour market is changing at a rapid pace due to economic and technological advances. Learning will therefore take place much more in interdisciplinary projects in the future. The following parameters are particularly important:

FLEXIBILITY

Modular curricula
Lifelong learning

TECHNOLOGICAL INTEGRATION

Digital education
Access to technology

PRACTICAL FOCUS

Dual education system
Business partnerships

CREATIVITY AND CRITICAL THINKING

Interdisciplinary approaches
Project-based learning methods

INCLUSION AND EQUAL
OPPORTUNITIES

Equal access to education
Support systems

Switzerland In An International Comparison

What We Can Learn from the Netherlands

In terms of technological integration, adaptability, practical focus and equal opportunities, it is worth taking a look at the Netherlands. It already has comprehensive lifelong learning programmes in place and relies on flexible curricula. The Dutch government also ensures that all children and young people have access to modern technology. Higher education institutions also have close partnerships with industry, creating a valuable link between theory and practice. We in Switzerland can learn from the Dutch flexibility and openness to educational approaches.

These Are the Challenges to Be Mastered by Switzerland

Disparities in the quality of education can be caused by financial differences among educational institutions, especially in view of the rising costs in education.

Fully integrating digital technologies into teaching calls for significant investment and training teachers and pupils in digital skills.

A shortage of qualified teachers, especially in science and technology, and insufficient training places in the dual education system are challenges.

The integration of pupils with a migrant background and special needs requires additional resources and special education programmes to ensure access to quality education for all.

Technological advances and globalisation require the constant adaptation of curricula and training methods, as well as early and effective career guidance, to prepare pupils for future challenges.