Podcast Episode on Vocational Training, Digitalisation and Migration

Sonja Hofstetter, Head of Skills, Labour and Market at Swisscontact

Sonja Hofstetter is a trained primary school teacher and studied international and comparative education. In 2014, she completed the NADEL at ETH Zurich, specialising in vocational education and training. In Cambodia, she was a technical advisor for the Skills Development Programme implemented by Swisscontact, and today, as Head of Skills, Labour and Migration, she is responsible for this area at the organisation.

What are ‘Green Skills’?

"It is about changing existing job profiles so that work processes can be designed in a more environmentally friendly or sustainable way so that we can best mitigate the consequences of global warming and the environmental impact of our work."

Sonja Hofstetter, Head of Skills, Labour and Migration at Swisscontact

The dual education system is a Swiss success story and we export it to all continents. Does it work in every country like it does in Switzerland?

"Above all, it works when there is work. That is always our starting point in vocational education and training - to look at where the jobs are. People often start from the opposite side and say ‘if we give them skills, they will find a job’. Particularly in remote regions, however, the problem is often that there simply is no work available. You could train people for a long time, but they might then have to travel somewhere else to find a job. While this may be one option, not everyone does that."

Can the Swiss vocational education and training system be replicated?

"I wouldn’t say that we are replicating the system. But we try to establish a link to employers right from the start. What kind of skills would someone need to do the job? This may be professional or technical skills, but also the social skills – the so-called soft skills, such as punctuality, effective communication, maintaining a well-groomed appearance – these are also skills that are often not learnt or taught in schools. These are elements of the Swiss vocational education and training system that we can easily explain to our local partners. Alternatively, we can work with them to develop models that are oriented towards dual vocational training."

Why doesn’t the dual system work equally well in all countries?

"The main reason is that in most countries we work in, vocational education and training is seen as a school system. So, the school is in the lead, whereas here in Switzerland it is the other way round; the companies are in the lead. The apprentices are employed by the companies and in most professions the young people go to school one day per week. In our project countries, on the other hand, it is often the other way round, and the system cannot simply be reversed. But, we can look at how we can bring schools and employers closer together, and how we can create models so that these two places of learning are better anchored together. "

How has digitalisation changed vocational education and training in low- and middle-income countries?

"Digitalisation gives you the opportunity to make lessons more interactive. It is also about access. For example, you can make theory accessible online. This means that learning can be more flexible. You can work a job during the day and still watch course material in the evening. In terms of the world of work, there are now also many more jobs in the digital sector, which offer opportunities for graduates of our programmes. For example, there are many US companies that outsource certain services to Central America and people who are certified can get a job in Central America for these American companies without having to migrate."

Systemic thinking is often long-term thinking that works beyond a project period. How do you deal with this?

"It means that you work with actors who are anchored in the system; that we as an organisation don’t start training people or paying for things that will no longer be paid for after the project ends; we really try to strengthen the local actors who are ultimately able and willing to continue the work long after the end of the project. This critical examination of the context and deep understanding of the system makes all the difference. "

Listen to the full Podcast episode (in German)