From November 27th to December 4th, 2022 within the framework of the “Modernizing Vocational Education and Training in Agriculture in Armenia (MAVETA)” project the one-week study visit was organized by the Strategic Development Agency NGO and the Bern University of Applied Sciences/School of Agricultural, Forest and Food Sciences for the directors of partner VET institutions and representatives of the private sector to the Swiss Confederation.
The purpose of the visit was to get acquainted with the VET dual education system of Switzerland and the process of curriculum development. The participants had the opportunity to visit various educational institutions and host companies, learn about the role of host companies and the importance of apprenticeships implemented in the dual VET educational system, as well as the opportunities and limitations of training on home-based farms. The participants expressed their satisfaction with the multidisciplinary visits and the information gained. They discussed and drew parallels between Armenia’s VET education system and Switzerland’s dual VET. As a result of the visit, within the framework of the MAVETA project, the educational programs of Veterinary, Milk and Dairy Technology, Farming, Agricultural Machinery, Dairy Farm Management, Orchard Horticulture/Nut and Fruit Cultivation will be reviewed and introduced, aligning with the principles of the dual education approach and the demand presented by employers.
The MAVETA project is funded by a broad coalition of international and local organizations led by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), including the Austrian Development Agency, the German Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), the Government of Armenia, the Swiss Church Aid (HEKS/EPER) NGO, Izmirlian Foundation, the Strategic Development Agency (SDA) NGO and Vanand Agro CJSC.
The project’s implementing partners are the GIZ and HEKS/EPER with the involvement of SDA and the School of Agricultural, Forest and Food Sciences at the Bern University of Applied Sciences (HAFL).
