CommunicationPublished on 1 September 2025

Switzerland focuses on vocational training for young people’s future

An inspiring model and an international commitment: at the Vocational Education and Training (VET) Congress in Lausanne from 3 to 5 September 2025, Switzerland will be highlighting its long-standing tradition of vocational training and its role in sharing know-how with partner countries.

Goma Neupane receives instructions from his boss for his new position. — © SDC

A Swiss model that is attracting a lot of attention

With one of the lowest youth unemployment rates in the world, a dynamic economy that creates jobs, and companies that find the skills they need, Switzerland is attracting much interest from abroad. This success is largely due to its vocational training model, chosen by almost two-thirds of young people. Other countries are particularly inspired by the Swiss combination of classroom theory and practical training on the job, the robust public–private partnership and the high degree of permeability within the education system. The private sector plays an active role and finances a significant proportion of the training.

The SDC's global commitment

Vocational education and training (VET) and vocational skills development (VSD) have been at the heart of Swiss cooperation for decades, long before the SDC was officially established. Recognised today as a model, Switzerland maintains its long-standing international commitment. However, its dual system cannot be transposed directly elsewhere without adaptation, as it is the product of a specific historical, economic and cultural context.

The SDC therefore adopts a contextualised approach, adapted to local realities, national priorities and the economic dynamics of each partner country. Its work is inspired by the principles of the Swiss model: direct involvement of professionals in training, practice-based learning, public-private co-financing and a clear division of roles between the state and the private sector. It supports both formal and non-formal systems, particularly in regions where the informal sector predominates.

The emphasis is on the active participation of the private and public sectors, each according to its prerogatives. The SDC implements a wide range of VSD projects, depending on national contexts and priorities, aimed at reducing poverty, promoting inclusion, improving employability and raising the level of training quality. Working with public and private partners, it promotes skills development that is aligned with market needs and creates sustainable economic prospects.

Success stories from Asia and Africa

Cambodia – Phally, an entrepreneur at 21

Phally is doing a client's make-up for a wedding. — © Swisscontact

“The vocational training programme has transformed my outlook on life,” says Phally Moeung, a 21-year-old beautician.

In her bright salon on the corner of a busy street, she concentrates on straightening a bride's hair. At just 21, Phally is running her own business, a success she attributes to the dual vocational training (DVT) programme supported by the Skills Development Programme.

She applies the skills acquired during her training on a daily basis: hair care, manicure, pedicure and beauty treatments. As well as running her salon, she takes on trainees, convinced that learning on the job is essential for professional development.

Nigeria – Training teachers to better prepare young people for the labour market

Ayinde in front of his technical college in Lagos. — © SDC

In Nigeria, many young people leave public Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions without the qualifications needed to find work in the growing private sector. The Skills Development for Youth Employment (SKYE II) project, co-funded by SDC and implemented by GIZ, is addressing this gap by strengthening the supply side of the labour market.

A key focus of the project is improving the quality of TVET. This includes training instructors and developing occupational standards with the private sector, so that TVET institutions can better respond to the needs of employers. Ayinde Oladeinde, a refrigeration and air-conditioning (RAC) instructor at a technical college in Lagos, has benefitted from that support: “Through the training, I deepened my knowledge and improved my teaching skills and now also joined the technical committee developing a new national curriculum with industry partners, a process supported by Switzerland” he explains. With better-trained teachers and demand-oriented courses, the project is one step closer to reaching its goal of improving the local labour market access for Nigeria’s youth.

The VET Congress in Lausanne – a global crossroads

By hosting the VET Congress in Lausanne, Switzerland is confirming its role as a global platform for exchange and innovation in VET. The congress provides an opportunity to share experiences, strengthen cooperation and reflect on the future challenges of the job market. It underlines the added value of a collective approach: bringing together governments, academia and the private sector to better prepare young people for the careers of tomorrow.