University of St. Gallen Leads New Phase of Vocational Education Research Supported by Swiss Government Funding

University of St. Gallen Leads New Phase of Vocational Education Research Supported by Swiss Government Funding

(IN BRIEF) The University of St. Gallen is co-leading the next phase of the GOVPET research project, supported by CHF 2.4 million in funding from SERI. The project examines how vocational education systems can adapt to challenges such as digitalization, sustainability, and labor shortages. The new phase will focus on adult education, public perception of vocational training, skill recognition, and the role of microcredentials. The research aims to improve the effectiveness and inclusivity of vocational training systems and continues to influence policy development both in Switzerland and internationally.

(PRESS RELEASE)  ST. GALLEN, 8-Apr-2026 — /EuropaWire/ — University of St. Gallen is co-leading a major research initiative into the future of vocational education and training (VET), supported by a CHF 2.4 million grant from the State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation (SERI). The funding will extend the GOVPET research project for an additional five years, continuing its work on how VET systems can adapt to evolving economic and societal demands.

The GOVPET (Governance in Vocational and Professional Education and Training) project, launched in 2015, examines how collaboration between governments, industry associations, and companies can ensure that training systems produce the skills required by modern labor markets. The project is jointly led by Prof. Dr Patrick Emmenegger from the University of St. Gallen and Prof. Dr Giuliano Bonoli from the University of Lausanne.

As Switzerland’s vocational education system faces increasing challenges linked to digitalization, environmental transformation, migration, and labor shortages, the new phase of the project will focus on several key research areas. One priority is the evolving role of adult education and reskilling programs, particularly in ensuring access for individuals who have traditionally had limited engagement with formal education.

The project will also explore how vocational training is perceived by the public, using international comparisons and survey data to identify ways to enhance its attractiveness relative to academic pathways. In addition, researchers will analyze how different countries are addressing the “twin transition” of digital and ecological change, including the development and political framing of new skill categories such as “green skills.”

Further research will examine how professional associations and companies in Switzerland are adapting training content and collaboration models in response to rapid technological and sustainability-related changes. Another focus area is the recognition of skills acquired through informal learning or by migrants, with the aim of improving inclusivity within the education and labor market systems.

The growing importance of alternative certification formats, such as short courses and microcredentials, will also be assessed. Through experimental studies involving employers in Switzerland and Ireland, the project will evaluate how these credentials are perceived and valued in hiring decisions.

Insights from the first two phases of GOVPET have revealed that vocational education continues to face challenges related to its perceived prestige compared to academic education. However, the research has also shown that VET is widely recognized as providing strong preparation for the labor market. Increased flexibility within the system, including pathways to higher education, has further contributed to improving its appeal.

The findings from GOVPET are already informing policy discussions in Switzerland and internationally, including within the European Union and the OECD. With the latest funding, the total investment in the project across its three phases reaches CHF 7.5 million.

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SOURCE: University of St. Gallen