General information
The Swiss education system comprises the following educational levels:
- primary level (including Kindergarten or first learning cycle)
- upper secondary level: vocational education and training (VET) and general education schools (Baccalaureate schools and upper secondary specialised schools)
- tertiary level education: tertiary level professional education in the non-university sector (Federal Diploma of Higher Education Examinations, Advanced Federal Diploma of Higher Education Examinations and colleges of higher education) and universities (universities, universities of applied sciences and universities of teacher education)
The main responsibility for the education system resides with the 26 cantons: the cantons are responsible for the education system wherever the Federal Constitution does not stipulate that the Confederation is responsible. The responsibilities of the Confederation apply to post-compulsory education: with regard to Baccalaureate schools, vocational and professional education and training, and universities, the Confederation and the cantons are partners, sharing responsibility for the public education system. The municipalities perform various tasks, particularly regarding compulsory education.
At federal level all matters relating to education, research and innovation have been brought together in the Federal Department of Economic Affairs, Education and Research (EAER). The State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation, (SERI), is the federal government's specialised agency for national and international matters concerning education, research and innovation policy.
Responsibilities in the education system
The responsibilities for regulation, financing, execution and supervision vary according to educational level and educational institution.
Upper secondary level
Baccalaureate schools and upper secondary specialised schools
The cantons are responsible for the Baccalaureate schools and upper secondary specialised schools. They are providers of schools and are responsible for supervision and financing. The Confederation and the cantons are jointly responsible for Swiss-wide recognition of the Baccalaureate. Intercantonal regulations apply for the recognition of upper secondary specialised schools and their qualifications.
Vocational education and training (VET)
Vocational and professional education and training (vocational education and training [VET], tertiary level professional education, and job-related continuing education and training [CET]) is within the regulatory capacity of the Confederation (Federal Constitution article 63). The Federal Vocational and Professional Education and Training Act defines vocational and professional education and training as the joint responsibility of the Confederation, the cantons and professional organisations. The cantons are responsible for the implementation of vocational education and training. They run educational institutions and are responsible for supervision and for most of the public financing. The Confederation is responsible for the strategic governance and development of vocational and professional education and training, and contributes to its financing. The professional organisations and companies perform important tasks in VET, and also contribute to the financing.
Tertiary level education
Tertiary level professional education
Tertiary education, as part of the professional education and training, falls under the Confederation’s responsibility of regulation. The Confederation, the cantons and professional organisations work together within the areas of their responsibilities. The cantons are responsible for implementation, run a multitude of educational institutions, and supervise the colleges of higher education. On the Confederation's approval, professional organisations regulate various aspects of the Federal Diploma of Higher Education Examinations and Advanced Federal Diploma of Higher Education Examinations. They can run colleges of higher education and offer preparatory courses for the Federal Diploma of Higher Education Examinations and Advanced Federal Diploma of Higher Education Examinations. The Confederation and the cantons contribute to the financing of tertiary level professional education. Anyone completing a preparatory course to prepare for the Federal Diploma of Higher Education and the Advanced Federal Diploma of Higher Education Examinations receives financial support from the Confederation. The Confederation pays up to 50 per cent of the course fees.
Universities
According to the Federal Constitution (Art. 63a BV), the Confederation and the cantons are jointly responsible for ensuring the quality of higher education. Three enactments ensure implementation of this constitutional mandate:
- The Federal Act on Funding and Coordination of the Swiss Higher Education Sector (Higher Education Funding and Coordination Act, HFKG)
- The Intercantonal Agreement on the Swiss Higher Education Sector (Higher Education Concordat)
- Cooperation Agreement between the Confederation and Cantons (ZSAV).
The entire higher education sector (universities, universities of applied sciences and universities of teacher education) is regulated under Federal law. The HFKG governs the coordination and promotion of higher education and regulates the goals and principles of the organisation and process of coordination. The Intercantonal Agreement regulates cooperation among the participating cantons and collaboration with the Confederation on coordination in the Swiss higher education sector. The Cooperation Agreement creates the following joint institutions: the Swiss Conference of Higher Education Institutions, the Rectors' Conference and the Accreditation Council.
Every Federal and cantonal higher education institution and establishment has its own legal status through the respective supporting institution.
Continuing education and training (CET)
Continuing education and training is characterised by heterogeneity, e.g. regarding regulation, responsibility and financing. The Confederation and the cantons mainly perform a subsidiary role. They intervene in the areas of CET where it would not be possible to achieve the pursued objectives and intended effects without suitable regulation or supportive measures. Both the Confederation and the cantons regulate certain areas of CET.
In 2006, the revision of the education regulations in the Federal Constitution (article 64a) gave the Confederation the authority to lay down principles of CET in a law. The act implements the constitutional mandate on continuing education and training (CET), organises CET in the Swiss education area and lays down principles governing CET.
The organisation of continuing education and training is largely market-based. Private parties perform a key role, providing and financing continuing education and training.
Cooperation in the education system
Coordination and cooperation are of central importance to the coherence of the Swiss education system. The Federal Constitution obliges the Confederation and the cantons to cooperate with each other, and also obliges the cantons to cooperate with one another. Since 1970, intercantonal cooperation has been based on the Intercantonal Agreement on Education Coordination.
Cooperation between the cantons
Cooperation between the cantons occurs at the cantonal, regional, or Swiss-wide level, depending on the educational level and the respective task. Cantons can cooperate on various issues and coordinate their efforts. Tasks where uniform solutions are called for Swiss-wide (e.g. school structures, educational objectives and recognition of educational qualifications) are regulated at the national level by the Swiss Conference of Cantonal Ministers of Education (EDK), which comprises the 26 cantonal ministers responsible for education, culture and sport. The EDK performs tasks which the cantons and regions cannot perform alone. Tasks which call for regional cooperation (e.g. linguistic regions' curricula) are handled by the EDK's regional conferences. In general, the cantons' cooperation is regulated within legally binding intercantonal agreements (or concordats).
Cooperation cantons - Confederation
The cantons and the Confederation work together in areas where both are responsible. The EDK is the Confederation's contact partner. The State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation (SERI) within the Federal Department of Economic Affairs, Education and Research (EAER) bears responsibility for matters regarding education on behalf of the Confederation.
With regard to universities, the Confederation and the cantons, as well as the cantons amongst themselves, operate corresponding coordination bodies and have enacted joint agreements.