Skills and lifelong learning

ILO and Swiss Federal University for Vocational Education and Training (SFUVET) sign an agreement to promote skills and lifelong learning

The Letter of Understanding between the two organizations aims to promote skills and lifelong learning for all workers throughout their working lives.

News | 23 September 2021
(From left: H.E. Mr Félix Baumann, Ambassador, Permanent Mission of Switzerland to the United Nations; Dr Barbara Fontanellaz, Director-General of SFUVET; Mr Adrian Wüthrich, Chairman of SFUVET; Ms Martha E. Newton, ILO Deputy Director-General for Policy)
GENEVA (ILO News) – The International Labour Organization (ILO) and the Swiss Federal University for Vocational Education and Training (SFUVET) have signed a new Letter of Understanding (LoU) to support the establishment of effective skills and lifelong learning systems for all. The letter is a direct follow-up to the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Swiss Confederation and the ILO on international development cooperation, signed on 1 April 2021 by the President of the Swiss Confederation and the ILO Director-General.

The LoU strengthens the ongoing collaboration between the two organizations to promote and support, among other things, core skills, digital skills and quality apprenticeships.

It also underlines the importance of innovation for skills and lifelong learning and envisages joint activities to ideate, which refers to the generation of new ideas, develop and test new solutions to tackle key skills challenges. The implementation of the letter will be guided by an annual joint plan of action and periodic consultations.

“Switzerland’s dual-track VET system is widely recognized as the international gold standard and the Swiss VET expertise is in high demand worldwide. SFUVET is the gateway for the international community to the Swiss VET excellence. Together, we will promote employability and access to decent jobs,” said the ILO Deputy Director-General for Policy Martha E. Newton


The letter opens up a new chapter of the collaboration between two organizations, ahead of the second segment of the 109th session of the International labour Conference, which will take place from 25 November to 11 December, where a General Discussion on Skills and Lifelong Learning will be held.

About the SFUVET

The Swiss Federal University for Vocational Education and Training (SFUVET) is the Swiss expert organization for vocational education and training. SFUVET provides training to Vocational Education and Training (VET) professionals, conducts VET research, contributes to the development of occupations and supports international cooperation in vocational and professional education and training.