Why Swiss Vocational Education Inspires the World

Many thanks to Harry Stitzel for this valuable and well-executed TV report, filmed during a CEMETS site visit. We also extend our gratitude to everyone at Coop who took the time to engage with the questions from our international Reform Leaders.

With over 10 years of experience, we know: Switzerland’s vocational education and training (VET) system — widely seen as the global gold standard — cannot simply be exported. But what we can share are the powerful outcomes of a well-functioning system: agile, confident learners who can clearly and often in excellent English explain why they chose a dual vocational path. That’s what leaves a lasting impression on our visitors.
Alongside company visits, Reform Leaders from around the world dive deep into our reform lab at ETH CEMETS. Here, they explore which systemic functions and processes must evolve to enable effective collaboration between labor market actors and the education system — always within the realities of their own political and cultural contexts.
Reforming education systems at this level is no small task. From understanding key processes to launching new institutions (like professional associations), the road to reform is long. It requires strategic vision, evidence-based planning, continuous capacity building, and a commitment to implementation research.

As one American participant in the report aptly noted: meaningful education reform leads to cultural change — and that takes time. Often decades.

🎥 external page Watch the full report
(in german language)