On April 15-16, a delegation from Albania, including the Deputy Minister of Economy, Culture, and Innovation (MoECI), representatives from MoECI, the general directors of NAES and NAVETQ, and representatives from the “Skills for Jobs” project, undertook a study visit to Switzerland. The primary focus was on exploring Switzerland’s vocational education system and its dual model, aiming to identify elements applicable to the Albanian VET system.

During the visit, the Albanian delegation had the opportunity to familiarize themselves with the successful practices of Switzerland’s dual system and engage in discussions regarding its potential implementation in Albania. The role and involvement of the private sector in this context were also deliberated upon. This visit was organized by the ‘Skills for Jobs’ (S4J) project, funded by the Swiss Agency for Cooperation and Development (SDC) and implemented by Swisscontact Albania.

On April 15, a workshop took place at the University of St.Gallen, focusing on the technical aspects of implementing the dual system in Albania. Moderated by Prof. Dr. Dieter Euler and Prof. Dr. Bernadette Diliger from the Institute of Business Education and Educational Management (IWP-HSG) at the University of St.Gallen.

On April 16, the delegation visited the GBS St. Gallen Vocational School (Gewerbliche Berufsschule St. Gallen), where they were greeted by the school principal, Mr. Daniel Kehl, and staff who provided insights into the Swiss VET system and their school. Students shared their apprenticeship experiences within various businesses. Additionally, representatives from ITQ Group discussed the Makethon event, an innovative educational initiative where over 900 participants from universities and vocational schools collaborate to develop technological prototypes and solutions in a short timeframe.

The visit also included meetings with two companies actively engaging apprentices and applying the dual system. Starrag Group, located in Rorschacherberg, showcased its leadership in producing high-precision tools for the aviation, energy, micromechanical, and transport sectors globally. Finally, the program concluded with a visit to Libs in Heerbrugg, a prominent training company overseeing the entire process of recruiting and capacitating apprentices for Swiss companies. With approximately 1,100 apprentices, Libs stands as the largest training association in the mechanical and electrical engineering industry in Switzerland.