Switzerland - other programmes

Tertiary level B professional education and training covers the vocational and professional non-university sector of the tertiary level (tertiary level B).
It awards the qualifications needed for a demanding professional activity with specialist or management responsibility. The courses of education and training are varied as regards content, requirements and maintaining bodies and are marked by their consistent orientation to the needs of the labour market.

Tertiary level B professional education and training is a feature specific to Switzerland. In many other countries corresponding types of training are carried out at higher education institutions. Differences in the various vocational education and training systems make it difficult to classify the leaving qualifications of tertiary level B professional education and training properly when comparing with other countries. Measures are being taken to strengthen tertiary level B professional education and training and position it internationally (Copenhagen Process).

The Confederation, the cantons and the professional organisations (OdA) are working together to achieve high-quality vocational and professional education and training. This principle of an alliance based on the Federal Act on Vocational and Professional Education and Training (VPETA) also proves successful in tertiary level B professional education and training. The partners in the alliance are the stakeholders in different areas of responsibility.