Rerun: Learning from the Swiss Apprenticeship Model
- Author
- Jeff Selingo and Michael Horn
- Published
- Tue 19 Aug 2025
- Episode Link
- https://www.futureupodcast.com
The U.S. has a lot to learn when it comes to systematizing apprenticeship. Thankfully, there are successful international models, like Switzerland’s, that we can study. Katie Caves, the Director at Switzerland’s Center on the Economics and Management of Education and Training Systems, joins the podcast to discuss the Swiss model and what can be gleaned from it. They discuss its permeability between academic and vocational tracks, proving its value to employers, the prestige of Swiss apprenticeships, and the principles that hold across borders. This episode is made with support from Ascendium Education Group
Publications Mentioned:
Return on investment of apprenticeship systems for enterprises: Evidence from cost-benefit analyses
by Samuel Muehlemann & Stefan C Wolter
Chapters
0:00 - Intro
3:35 - Swiss Apprenticeship 101
6:56 - Path Selection and Funding
13:46 - The Status of Apprenticeship in Switzerland
18:58 - Borrowing Across Borders
25:15 - The ROI to Employers
29:47 - Evaluating Indiana’s Apprenticeship Model
33:45 - Imbuing Prestige in American Apprenticeship
38:49 - Striking the Balance
43:01 - The Influence of Accountability
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