Prepustnost: preglednost in možnosti prehoda v izobraževalnem sistemu
The dual apprenticeship system is a well-established and refined scheme within the Swiss VET system.
Every year, around two thirds of young people choose to pursue dual vocational training after completing compulsory schooling. In 2019 there have been around 214,000 apprentices in Switzerland with about 250 different apprenticeship programmes offered.
In Switzerland two types of dual VET programmes exist: 2-year courses leading to a federal vocational certificate and 3- to 4- year courses to be completed with a federal proficiency certificate. In both cases, completion of compulsory schooling and a minimum age of 15 years are prerequisites for starting training. The proportion of in-company training amounts to between 60 and 80 percent of training duration, the proportion of school-based training between 20 and 40 percent.
The costs of in-company training are largely borne by the enterprises. The public vocational training costs (vocational schools etc.) are financed by the federal government and the cantons, with the cantons accounting for the largest share at about 75 percent of the costs.
Training companies need an education licence certified by the cantonal VET office. In order to get such a licence the company must provide a specially qualified trainer and a training schedule. A contractual agreement between the training company and the apprentice is also legally required and the apprentice receives a remuneration.
Access to higher education is available through:
1. Vocational university entrance qualification
The vocational university entrance qualification is usually acquired in parallel with the apprenticeship (variant 1). However, it can also be obtained after completion of the apprenticeship, lasting one year in a full-time variant and one and a half to two years in a part-time form (variant 2).
The vocational university entrance qualification is offered in five subject areas: “Technology, architecture and life sciences”; “Nature, landscape and food”; “Economy and services”; “Design and art” as well as “Health and social affairs”. Individuals having a vocational university entrance qualification are admitted to a Bachelor's degree program at a university of applied sciences.
2. Passarelle
Graduates of a dual apprenticeship, who also have a vocational university entrance qualification, can take another exam, the so-called "Passarelle", and therefore gain general access to university studies. The Passarelle exam is available to everyone with a vocational university entrance qualification; it is made up of two examinations, one part including sciences as well as humanities and social sciences and a second examination in two national languages and mathematics.
3. Entrance examination / special admission procedures
Universities can autonomously decide on admission requirements with regard to these two admission routes: entrance examinations and special admissions. Target groups for these special admission procedures are people who do not have a “Matura” or any other regular entry qualification.
Entrance examinations consist of written and oral exams in several high school subjects and are based on the level of the Swiss university entrance qualification.
Special admissions are different depending on the faculty and degree program. Minimum requirement is an application dossier and/or an admission interview. In most cases, written and oral exams must also be taken, which may include fields of general education, but can also include contents in regard of the aspired study course.
4. Recognition of prior professional training; admission Sur Dossier
In Switzerland, Sur Dossier procedures describe the admission of qualified persons who have been granted an individual admission procedure and who do not meet the formal admission requirements. The assessment is usually based on a detailed portfolio in which the candidates document their non-formally acquired skills and knowledge.
5. General university entrance qualification for adults
The university entrance qualification can be obtained via the “second chance” educational path and enables direct access to universities and – with study field related to relevant professional experience - also to universities of applied sciences. The admission to the general university entrance qualification for adults is very different at cantonal level and often requires an entrance examination. For example, the ad-mission requirements for the entrance exam in the canton of Zurich include the following criteria: completed apprenticeship training or at least three years of regulated work, good knowledge of the German language and a maximum age of 40.
Non traditional access to apprenticeship is fostered through the “Way-up apprenticeship”.
The so-called “Way-up apprenticeship” is an option for individuals with a university entrance qualification who want to complete an apprenticeship. This training variant takes only two years instead of the usual four.
Further sources:
https://www.dualeducationfinder.eu/sites/default/files/downloads/report-permeability.pdf