Future U Podcast - The Pulse of Higher Ed

Learning from the Swiss Apprenticeship Model

Mar 11, 2025

Katie Caves, Director at Switzerland’s Center on the Economics and Management of Education and Training Systems, shares her expertise on the Swiss apprenticeship model. She reveals how this system effectively balances vocational and academic pathways, involving about 70% of Swiss youth. Caves discusses the model's prestige, its economic benefits for employers, and how American institutions can learn from its structured approach. The conversation also touches on the unique challenges faced in building similar systems in the U.S., particularly in Indiana.