VET between Poverty Alleviation and Economic Development

Course objective: 

In recent years, international interest in vocational education and training (VET) has grown. The discussion about the success factors of VET and the extent dual VET can offer advantages to developing countries is still ongoing. Switzerland, with its own unique and strong VET system, has a long tradition of implementing VET in developing countries. Experts from the field will bring their experience to bear in the course, which provides an overview of the systems and process dimensions of VET, opportunities for VET implementation as well as implications and constraints. In the end, participants will have strengthened their competence in portfolio management for VET, skills development, and labor market policies.

Key topics:

• Basic VET concepts and terms
• Differences and commonalities between VET and related systems
• Planning and assessment of VET interventions with different objectives: economic development, poverty alleviation, creation of self-employment or systems development
• VET Governance
• VET Financing
• Dual VET approaches and their transfer into development cooperation Background, potential use, and limitations of (national) qualification frameworks
   

Duration: 19/01–23/01/2026

Teaching format: Online 

ECTS points: 3

Examination: A written assignment will be distributed during the course, and due 1 week after the course completion

Course fee:  CHF 950

Lecturers:

• Dr. Katherine Marie Cave
• Dr Kenneth Harttgen, NADEL (Coordination)

For more information please visit nadel.ethz.ch

Registration starts 2nd of June 2025.

Photo credit: Asian Development Bank / Abir Abdullah