Initial vocational education and training: Professional skills for the world of work

What matters to us in initial vocational training

Initial vocational training creates opportunities for individuals and entire societies. We support developing coun-tries in building sustainable vocational education systems. The training offer includes short, hands-on courses as well as comprehensive programmes, combining technical and soft skills.

We draw inspiration from Switzerland’s dual, apprenticeship-based education system, which combines learning in the workplace and at school.

Through a facilitative approach, we support establishment of cooperation models between businesses and educational institutions, as well as other public and private system actors that partner to improve access, improve quality and ease the transition from school to working life.

Our success factors

1. Cooperation with the private sector 
   The private is on our projects driving seat, making sure training matches real market needs and opens doors for youth employment. Employers contribute at every stage including co-financing, governance, designing and delivering programs, and creating pathways to jobs.
2. Practice-oriented dualized training
   In collaboration with local businesses, we support development of cooperation models that ensure combination of theory and practice inspired by the model of Switzerland’s dual education system, but contextualised as per the local conditions.
3. Systemic change
   We support the transformation of vocational education and training by empowering local providers, fostering partnership models, and advancing reforms. System actors are enabled to innovate and collaborate to establish and expand quality driven sustainable vocational training programmes and systems that work for all.