Developments

In continuing education, issues and requirements regarding transparency, coordination and quality assurance in particular have increased in recent times and have led to the founding of the Forum for Swiss Continuing Education and the Inter-Cantonal Conference for Continuing Education.

Federal Law on Vocational Education and Training

With regard to the legal basis, the Federal Law on Vocational Education and Training has led to the improvement of vocationally oriented continuing education. Continuing education has found its way into the Federal Constitution by means of the revision of education regulations. The Confederation has received the competence to specify principles of continuing education.

eduQua

In the year 2000, eduQua, a quality label, was established for quality assurance in the field of continuing education. eduQua is a Swiss quality certificate, which certifies continuing education institutes on the basis of various criteria and minimum requirements. In an increasing number of cantons, the eduQua certificate is a requirement for continuing education institutes to be able to receive public funds.

SDBB

The Swiss Service Centre for Vocational Training, Study and Careers Counselling (SDBB) has been in place since 2007 and is a newly founded institution of the Swiss Conference of Cantonal Ministers of Education (EDK) for the provision of services within the fields of responsibility that are transferred to the cantons by the Federal Law on Vocational Education and Training. In the field of continuing education, the Swiss Service Centre for Vocational Training, Study and Careers Counselling performs the following tasks, among others: production of information material for vocational training, study and careers counselling, and the assurance of the continuing education of specialists in the field of vocational training, study and careers counselling and in vocational education and training in the non-scholastic domain.