The Swiss Skills in Bern have shown that interest in gold medal professions is increasing. In the guest contribution, Flavia waterfalls (SP) presents a funding measure.
To rave about Ditaji Kambundji would be obvious. Instead, I straighten the headlight somewhere else. On the medal wearers Julie, Paula, Andrin or Janis.
You don’t know that? I don’t before.
But I’ve been a fan since the Swiss Skills. I got to know the Swiss delegation, which has won ELF medals at the European Vocational Championships Euro Skills in Denmark, six times gold, and thus the most successful nation in the competition!
The young professionals not only gave us an impressive medal blessing, but also proved a major service to vocational training.
“If they can, maybe I can do it”
A study by the University of Bern measured this: the interest of young people in gold medal professions increases on average by 7 percent. In these professions there are also deeper demolition rates and more timely degrees.
Neither a Grand Slam win from Federer nor the gold medal from Kambundji can trigger a comparable boom for your discipline.
Why? According to the study mentioned, we can identify more easily with “normal” people like Janis, Julie, Paula and Co.
This is called “Like you and me” effect and means: “If they can, the apprenticeship is certainly great and I may be able to do it too.”
Yes, the apprenticeship is great and we were able to experience this up close at the Swiss Skills in Bern.
Over 150 professions were presented, from the gardener to the violin maker to the baker to the record layer, pure passion and highest concentration everywhere.
Apprenticeships strengthen with at least six weeks of vacation
This is the best advertising for the apprenticeship. And the Federal Council also wants to strengthen this, as he writes in the recent report. However, he pushes the ball to the cantons.
They should examine measures to promote apprenticeship. Unfortunately, an effective and simple measure is missing: at least six holiday weeks for learners.
This is exactly what I demand with four other politicians, including the Bern National Council members Fabienne Stämpfli (GLP) and Marc Jost (EVP).
To the author: Flavia waterfalls (*1979) has represented the SP in the Council of States since 2023. Before that, she was a national councilor between 2018 and 2023.
