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Within the scope of their powers, the Confederation and cantons jointly ensure the high quality and accessibility of the Swiss education area: this is the wording of Article 61a of the Swiss Federal Constitution, dated 21 May 2006. On this basis, the Confederation enacted the Education Cooperation Act (BIZG), effective 1 January 2017. Digitization occupies a central place in the 2019 Declaration on common political objectives for the Swiss education area. The Educa Agency acts as the joint instrument of the Confederation and the cantons for improving quality in the digital education space. The strategic management of assignments is handled by the Process Management of Education Cooperation (PL BiZ).

“Digital opportunities and offerings are evolving at a rapid pace and represent a great opportunity for education. Teaching becomes more versatile and individual; learning and studying are less bound by geographical restrictions. However, it calls for a lot of expertise in infrastructure, systems compatibility and data protection. It is vital that the cantons identify trends and, following precise analyses, define which path to take towards digitization. Educa prepares this expertise and thus supports the cantons on their journey into the digital future.”
– Susanne Hardmeier, Secretary-General EDK

"The drastic rate of digital change is undoubtedly affecting all sections of our society. In the education sector, it is vital that we take advantage of the opportunities created by digitization, for example, by incorporating new methods and possibilities for teaching and learning and applying new forms of data use and educational monitoring. However, this presupposes favourable parameters, especially at technical, legal and social levels. As an interface between education and digitization, Educa helps to ensure that the digitization of the education system is coherent and well-considered. Together we are committed to training the skilled workers of tomorrow."
– Rémy Hübschi, Deputy Director SERI

Digitization Coordination Committee

The Coordination Committee for Digitization in Education serves as a platform for strategic exchange and interdisciplinary development in the Swiss digital education space. It is active in the following areas:

  • It ensures timely monitoring of developments in digitization; it records and evaluates trends and developments relevant to education in the context of digitization;

  • it identifies new focus topics pertinent to the further development of education policy.

  • It coordinates the scientific/statistical monitoring of ICT and education. Additionally, it arranges for the processing of knowledge about ICT use in education, ICT-related expertise and the effects of digitization on education within the framework of education monitoring in Switzerland.

  • It promotes cooperation via institutional and professional networks and strengthens the dialogue between various stakeholders with the aim of drawing up nationwide proposals for measures and solutions for the attention of education policy decision-makers.

  • It ensures the involvement of relevant work and participants in the launch of nationwide projects.

  • It ensures an exchange of information on digitization-related implementation projects in the education system currently handled by the Confederation and cantons and pays attention to the targeted use of synergies.

  • If necessary, it coordinates communication and public relations work on issues of strategic relevance and on nationwide projects in Switzerland.
    After approval of education cooperation process management, it may award contracts for studies on trends and test contracts for new projects.

The Directorate of the State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation (SERI) and the General Secretariat of the Swiss Conference of Cantonal Ministers of Education (GS EDK) jointly manage KoA Digi.

Four priority topics

The Coordination Committee for Digitization in Education has defined four priority topics related to digitization in education:

  • Technical parameters: As a first measure under this heading, the EDK Plenary Assembly decided on 24/25 October 2019 to establish a Switzerland-wide federation of identity services for primary and upper secondary schools (Edulog). Educa is responsible for commissioning and concluding the federation contracts with identity and service providers.
  • Data access, data ownership and data protection: In summer 2019, an Educa interdisciplinary team co-published the “Data in Education - Data for Education” report with a group of external specialists. The report now forms the basis for developing parameters for sustainable data governance.
  • Data-driven monitoring: The Coordination Committee on Education Monitoring (KoA BiMo) is jointly responsible for monitoring education for the Confederation and cantons. An in-depth report is now to highlight the effects of digitization and create a basis regarding future requirements for the handling of educational data.
  • Participants in digitization and education: June 2019 saw the first preliminary event designed to generate dialogue between those responsible for education at two institutional levels, namely the Confederation and cantons, players in the EdTech sector and people from the school and teaching sectors. This invitation-only event format is held twice a year on changing topics.

Statute and service agreement

From 1 January 2021, Educa received a new statute as an institution under public law under the aegis of the EDK and SERI. The service agreement for 2021 to 2024 covers five focus topics, which are continually expanded and updated on this website:

  • Educational technology

  • Information and legal security

  • Digital identity

  • Data usage

  • Innovations