ETH adopts new vocational training strategy

Electricians, chemistry lab assistants, office workers and animal keepers: these are just a few of the 15 different occupations offered by ETH Zurich¡¯s vocational training programme, which currently boasts over 170 apprentices. The apprentices also receive guidance and support from around 200 trainees. ETH¡¯s vocational training program makes an important contribution to Switzerland¡¯s dual training and education system and trains qualified professionals for the labour market.

ETH has now adopted a new vocational training strategy which analyses the current situation and identifies the most important action areas for 2023¨C2026. The strategy also serves as a framework and basis for developing vocational education at the university.

Development is key

¡°The Swiss vocational training system is a model of success. You can see this in the low levels of youth unemployment, for example, and the excellent performance by young professionals in international competitions,¡± says Fabienne Jaquet, who heads up vocational training at ETH. ¡°To ensure that it stays this way and to continue keeping up with the demands of the job market, we need to continue developing our system, both in terms of content and structure, and this also includes us at ETH.¡±

Under the motto ¡°We equip young people for the working world of the future¡±, the vocational training strategy for 2023¨C2026 lays out the following objectives and action areas:

• Expansion of apprenticeship positions: Based on an agreement with the federal government, ETH Zurich will increase the number of apprenticeship slots on offer by 21 percent in all fields.
• Expansion of service portfolio: A service-oriented way of working will continue to be promoted among apprentices in interdisciplinary teams, for instance in teaching labs.
• Harnessing synergies: Internal and cross-institutional cooperation will be strengthened within the ETH Domain in order to make better use of synergies.
• Promoting talent: Mentoring and support for apprentices will get a boost. The goal is for apprentices to reach their potential as far as possible and to provide targeted support for those who are talented and ambitious.
• Promoting diversity and inclusion: Promoting diversity and inclusion is both a challenge and an opportunity. ETH¡¯s vocational education programme wants to support this mission and aims to expand its offering in this area.
• Intensive mentoring for trainees: Trainees should receive even more support on the job. Appreciating our trainees and recognising their contributions is a valuable aim that should be promoted.
• Improving training quality: ETH aims to continually improve the high quality standards of its vocational training. The goal is to identify trends and developments in each field early on and to implement them in day-to-day work. The same applies to findings from educational research.
• Promoting transition into the labour market: ETH will respond to the rising need for promising young professionals by instituting programmes to this end. The goal is to hire graduates from these programmes as regular employees after they finish their training.