Let’s get to work!

Foreword by SFUVET Director, Dr. Barbara Fontanellaz

Dr. Barbara Fontanellaz
SFUVET, Ben Zurbriggen

Our institution has been serving the needs of vocational education and training for fifty years. We celebrated this milestone in 2022, not so much in appreciation of our past achievements but rather by turning our eyes to the road ahead. The Swiss VPET system has always had to adapt to new social and economic trends. This adaptability must continue in order for vocational pathways to remain an appealing option for learners and companies in the future. 

We want to play an active role in shaping the future of vocational education and training – just as we have done for the past fifty years. The Swiss Federal University for Vocational Education and Training (SFUVET) conducts research that informs the decisions of policymakers and business leaders, and its training programmes and services provide practical know-how to VET professionals. 

Anchoring sustainability 

The case of sustainability is a prime example of how SFUVET intends to tackle future challenges. In 2022, we engaged in constructive dialogue between theorists and practitioners at the ‘Sustainable Skills’ symposium. Teachers and researchers talked with representatives of host companies, vocational schools and branch training centres and shared their respective views on what sustainability in vocational education and training means to them. 

SFUVET also helps VET professionals to anchor sustainability in vocational education and training. For example, we provide guidance and support in the drafting of new occupational profiles and in the updating of existing ones. If the energy transition is to succeed – to name just one example –, we need technicians who can install solar panels, program smart controls for electrical appliances and insulate houses. We need the type of technicians that undergo vocational education and training. 

Overcoming challenges 

We can rightfully take pride in our fifty-year history. At the same time, we mustn’t rest on our laurels. The challenges we face as a society are too great. Here, SFUVET and the Swiss VPET system have a vital role to play. Let’s get to work!