With locations in Lausanne, Lugano, Zollikofen and Zurich, the Swiss Federal Institute for Vocational Education and Training SFIVET is the Swiss governmental center of competence for the provision of tertiary-level basic and continuing training to VET actors, for the development of professions and for VET research.
SFIVET provides services in the following areas:
- Basic training of VET/PET professionals
- Continuing training of VET/PET professionals
- Research and development in the VET/PET field
- Development of Occupations
The Basic Training Division provides training to full-time and part-time teachers working at vocational schools and professional colleges as well as to other VET/PET professionals. Launched in autumn 2007, the Master of Science (MSc) degree programme in Vocational Education and Training provides university graduates with the opportunity to gain academic qualifications in the VET/PET field.
The Continuing Training Division offers continuing training courses designed to upgrade the skills of VET/PET professionals; enable VET organisations to develop their activities; provide VET/PET managers with advanced training; and promote quality and innovation within the Swiss VET/PET system.
The Research and Development Division explores and lays the foundations for basic and continuing training in the VET/PET field. In particular, it carries out evaluations and impact assessments or develops competence measurement concepts that serve as the basis for further VET/PET developments.
SFIVET’s Centre for the Development of Occupations provides professional organisations with assistance in the development and implementation of VET and PET programmes. Services in-clude: analysis and development of occupations; description of competences required to carry out a given occupational activity; and establishment of objectives, structure, duration and qualification procedures for VET and PET programmes.
SFIVET carries out various tasks and research activities on behalf of the Federal Office for Professional Education and Technology (OPET).
SFIVET acts as an interface between trade associations, professional organisations and the 26 cantons (with hundreds of vocational schools and professional colleges). As a national institute, SFIVET plays an important role for these partners, acting as a central point of contact for all matters relating to development projects and the basic and continuning training of VET/PET professionals.
SFIVET applies the principle of "building better practices through practice", whereby professional practices are constantly enriched by constant feedback between researchers and VET/PET professionals in the field.
With regional campuses in three of Switzerland's linguistic regions, SFIVET fulfills its mission as the sole institute in Switzerland. This ensures the consistent and comparable implementation of federal guidelines.
Download SFIVET Ordinance (German)