Posted on 10/05/2015 8:07:23 AM PDT by SeekAndFind
When you think of tech innovation, places like Silicon Valley and Boston spring to mind. But flying under the world's radar is Switzerland, where inventions like a solar plane that just completed the longest solo-flight ever without fuel are born.
And while Europe was busy debating bitcoin's future, Switzerland already opened up the region's first bitcoin ATM earlier this year.
The country has managed to maintain its No. 1 ranking on the Global Innovation Index for four years in a row.
Switzerland's résumé is definitely impressive: The country boasts the second-highest number of patents per person — second to Japan. Its residents have won more Nobel Prizes per capita than any other country. But the key to creating the best inventions is a highly qualified workforce, and this is what distinguishes Switzerland from the rest.
So how is Switzerland breeding the most innovative minds? It starts very early. The Swiss have a unique dual-system of vocational education and training, or VET — considered by many to be the best in Europe.
A practical education Once students in Switzerland reach the ninth grade, they can choose either to continue to upper-secondary education or to enroll in a VET program — which 70% of them do. VET is overwhelmingly popular because students study theory at school coupled with a three- to four-year apprenticeship at a company in their industry of choice. They can do anything from working on machinery to advising investors — everything a full-time employee does.
This program is an equally important investment for companies and the government as it is for the students. For starters, it helps fuel the economy, so much so that Switzerland boasts a 3.4% youth unemployment rate. To put that into perspective, as of July 2015, the youth unemployment in America was a staggering 11.7%.
(Excerpt) Read more at businessinsider.com ...
Interesting idea, but I find the concept of taking financial advice from the average American 9th Grader, terrifying.
Ans Switzerland has some of the toughest immigration laws in the world...
RE: Switzerland has some of the toughest immigration laws in the world...
They are not anti-foreigner at all, roughly 24% of those working in Switzerland are FOREIGNERS ( mostly highly skilled workers ). See here:
They have VERY TOUGH citizenship laws though.
I live and work in Switzerland, and have since 1997. I have put / am putting three children through this system.
1. The Primary School lasts 5, or sometimes 6 years.
2. At the end of the primary stage, a committee decides whether your child will go to:
a. Bezirkschule - this is the track that leads to college (must be an “A” student)
b. Sekundarschule - this track leads to most of the white collar types of jobs (must be a “B” student)
c. Realschule - leads to menial labor positions, at best. (everyone else)
3. Grades are NOT the only factor (social competence plays a big role) AND each Teacher can decide on the grading scheme to use. IOW, In Mrs. Smith's class, I might take a test and get an A, in Mrs Jone's class, she might decide that my work was only worth a B - there is little to no objectivity and no across the board standards.
4. At the beginning of the 9th Grade, the kids need to decide exactly what they want to do and look for a company that is willing to “hire” them. If you do not find an employer willing to hire you for what you want to do - YOU LOOSE! Your education is effectively over after 9 years. This happens to roughly 10% of all students / year. (I have seen the statistics in German). When I say exactly, I mean exactly. You can't learn “construction” and specialize while you learn. You must choose “Brick Layer”, “Plasterer”, etc.
5. “Bloat” has become so common that it is now a requirement to have at least “Sekundar” to become a Gardener (plant names are Latin!), or a cashier at the Grocer.
6. It is possible to “move up” - but the requirements are extremely hard to reach.
7. If you land in the 10% (and this is across all sectors, not just “Realschule”) - your chances of getting a position in the following year are even worse.
8. Once you've learned a trade, your rather stuck - in order to obtain the certification you need, you would need to go back to another 3-4 years of school (i.e. repeat High School) and apprentice at a new employer.
IOW, if you are a good student in grade school, you have a good chance of going far. If you don't really take off scholastically until middle school / are more the individualist ~ your chances disappear rapidly.
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