Is it necessary to reassess the priorities in (dual) Vocational Education and Training (VET) in Switzerland's official development cooperation?
A Debate on Direction, Dialogue, and Development
DC dVET and FoBBIZ brought together leading voices in vocational education and training (VET) for a timely and thought-provoking online debate. The event, titled “Rethinking Priorities: The Future of Dual VET in International Cooperation,” addressed the evolving role of dual VET in development cooperation amid shifting political priorities and tightening budgets.
A Clash of Perspectives: Maurer vs. Euler
The debate opened with contrasting visions from two Swiss experts:
Prof. Dr. Markus Maurer questioned the continued emphasis on poverty-oriented VET models, including dual ones. He argued for a strategic shift toward higher qualification levels and robust foundational education, better aligned with the actual needs of labor markets in partner countries.
Prof. Dr. Dieter Euler, in contrast, defended the value of dual VET as a proven tool for economic development and social integration, provided it is closely aligned with local labor market demands. He emphasized the importance of maintaining and strengthening dual VET systems within international cooperation frameworks.
Their exchange set the stage for a broader discussion on how donor countries—particularly German-speaking ones—should navigate their roles and responsibilities in shaping future VET systems globally.
Panel Reflections: Context, Complexity, and Cooperation
The panel discussion that followed brought additional nuance and depth:
Margarita Langthaler, Senior Researcher at the Austrian Foundation for Development Research (ÖFSE), challenged the notion of dual VET as a universal “gold standard”, highlighting that some socioeconomic contexts might not offer the necessary institutional preconditions for dual VET. Instead, she advocated for a contextualized dualization of VET. In addition, she cautioned against blanket structural support for private VET providers.
Ralf Hermann, Head of the German Office for International Cooperation in VET (GOVET) at the Bundesinstitut für Berufsbildung (BIBB), highlighted that even in Germany, dual VET needs to address urgent challenges for better inclusion and equity. He pleaded for genuine dialogue rather than exporting models, the appropriation of dual VET elements by partner countries and consistent donor policies. He also stressed collaborative options for higher education and VET institutions, and the need to include the informal sector in VET strategies.
Britta Lambertz, Head of the Section Education, Vocational Education and Training, Labour Markets at Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit GmbH (GIZ) called for a balanced approach: there is no “either – or” but the focus of intervention depends on the specific framework conditions in a partner country. The international trend is to orient TVET interventions much more towards labour-market needs (“opportunity-driven VET”), be it at secondary or tertiary level.
A Call for Contextualized Cooperation
The debate underscored a shared understanding: there is no one-size-fits-all solution. As international cooperation in VET evolves, it must be grounded in local realities, inclusive of diverse actors, and responsive to changing global dynamics.
Video of the two key inputs:
Documentation of the event: Webinars & Workshops of DC dVET | Donor Committee for Dual Vocational Education and Training