Pre-apprenticeships for refugees and migrants (INVOL programme) to be expanded

The INVOL programme is intended to better exploit the integration potential of refugees and migrants and ensure their long-term employment prospects by preparing them for enrolment in formal two-year, three-year or four-year vocational education and training. The INVOL programme also serves the purpose of ensuring an adequate supply of skilled workers, especially in occupational fields where there are not enough young people to replace an ageing workforce.

Group of ethnically diverse people having language lesson for immigrants sitting at table doing task with use of digital tablets
Adobe Stock/pressmaster

In the 2021/22 winter session, the Swiss Parliament adopted Motion 21.3964 'Filling Gaps in the Integration Agenda. Equal opportunities for all young people in Switzerland'. This motion calls for INVOL to be established as a long-term programme and adapted as needed. In a corresponding mandate, the Integration Division of the State Secretariat for Migration (SEM) was instructed to prepare the basis for the long-term continuation and adaptation of INVOL as well as for the consolidation of annual federal subsidies from 2024 onwards.

Dr. Alexandra Felder, Dr. Marlise Kammermann and Dr. Regula Stucki provide support and guidance to the SEM project team under the terms of an advisory mandate.

Publications

Kammermann, M., Stalder, B. E., & Schönbächler, M.-T. (2022). Fachkräftesicherung durch die Integrationsvorlehre. Ergebnisse zum Schweizer Pilotprogramm INVOL. BWP - Berufsbildung in Wissenschaft und Praxis, 51(1), 51-55.

Stalder, B. E., Kammermann, M., Lehmann, S., & Schönbächler, M.-T. (2021). Pre-Apprenticeship for Refugees in Switzerland. In C. Nägele, B. E. Stalder, & M. Weich (Eds.), Pathways in Vocational Education and Training and Lifelong Learning. Proceedings of the 4th Crossing Boundaries Conference in Vocational Education and Training (pp. 332-337). Muttenz, Bern: NWPH, VETNET, PHBern.

Felder, A. (2020). Dynamiques identitaires et sens d’un projet de formation au cours de la procédure d’asile. L'orientation scolaire et professionnelle, 49(3), 459-480.

Scharnhorst, U. & Kammermann, M. (2019). Integrationsvorlehren – eine Flexibilisierung des Zugangs zur Berufsbildung für Geflüchtete in der Schweiz. BWP - Berufsbildung in Wissenschaft und Praxis, 48(5), 16-20.

Felder, A. (2018). Integration durch Bildung und Erwerbsarbeit in Zeiten von Unsicherheit– die Perspektive der Asylsuchenden. In S. Engelage (Hrsg.), Migration und Berufsbildung in der Schweiz (S. 77-102). Zürich: Seismo.