TV-interview with the Uzbek journalist Manzura Khasanova
Professor Ursula Renold outlined how Uzbekistan could benefit from learning from the Switzerland's dual education system.
In a TV-interview with the Uzbek journalist Manzura Khasanova, Professor Ursula Renold outlined how Uzbekistan could benefit from learning from the Switzerland's dual education system. She detailed Switzerland's extensive history in professional training, focusing on reforms from 1995 to 2010 that standardized training and created a seamless bridge between primary and higher education. Prof. Renold underscored the importance of industry collaboration and digital transformation in Switzerland's educational success.
When addressing Uzbekistan's needs, she highlighted a significant demand in the tourism sector, particularly in hotel management. She pointed out the lack of a skilled workforce and insufficient cooperation between hotels and vocational schools as major barriers to implementing an effective dual education system.The survey study conducted by the CES team from ETH revealed that 99% of Uzbek hotels currently lack qualified staff, underscoring the urgent need for reform.
She emphasized the need for Uzbekistan to create a tailored education system rather than copying another country's model. She highlighted the role of industry associations in coordinating educational needs and stressed the importance of companies investing in training. Despite current struggles, Uzbekistan's tourism potential is enormous, necessitating an urgent upgrade in skill levels to meet market demands.
They further discussed the impact of digitalization and artificial intelligence (AI) on professional education and the hospitality industry. Prof. Renold highlighted how AI is increasingly used in countries like Singapore and Switzerland to perform tasks traditionally done by humans, such as cooking and customer service. This trend could be useful when there is a shortage of qualified personnel.
Prof. Renold also pointed out that educational systems worldwide often fail to prepare students for practical needs, particularly soft skills. When asked about the countries who have a "Silver standard" status in dual education, Prof. Renold answered that countries like Germany, Austria, and Denmark are close to the "silver standard", while developing nations like Serbia and Nepal are making significant progress.
The interview concluded with a discussion on the importance of investing in higher education and vocational training. Prof. Renold explained that Switzerland's success is due to a strong vocational training system, with the industry covering a significant portion of training costs. This has resulted in a high number of Swiss universities ranking among the top globally. Uzbekistan could achieve similar success by prioritizing investment in education and learning from Swiss expertise.