International Mobility Vocational Education and Training

Thanks to a job-related stay in a host institution abroad, valuable experience can be gained and international flair can be lived. Not only abroad, but also in your own institution in Switzerland.

In an international mobility projct, VET learners and VET graduates as well as VET staff (teachers, trainers, etc.) can take part in a mobility activity.

Subsidised mobility projects allow institutions to send Swiss residents abroad. As part of the same project, foreign partner institutions may send the same number of individuals to Switzerland. 

The following activities are supported for the different target groups:

VET learners and recent VET graduates from Switzerland and abroad (individual and/or group mobility):
For learners in an education with a Federal Certificate or Diploma of Vocational Education and Training or in a vocational baccalaureate.

• Professional internship in a host company abroad
• Thematic project work

The duration of stay is from 5 days to max. 365 days (without travel days). A maximum of 180 days is recommended for VET graduates.

These conditions are to be complied with for the activities mentioned:

• The maximum duration of stay of 365 days can be divided into a maximum of 2 mobility activities.
• VET graduates must start the exchange activity within 12 month of obtaining their diploma.

Both activities, the professional internships and the thematic project work, can be combined with language preparation. In this case, the costs of the course are not covered. However the additional time spent abroad is subsidised with the sbsistence grant:

• A mobility of at least 2 weeks up to 2 months entitles to a language preparation of max. 2 weeks and max. 50 % of the duration of the entire stay.
• A mobility of at least 2 months entitles to a language preparation of max. 1 month.

VET teaching staff from Switzerland and abroad:

• Exchange regarding educational and training questions
• Jobshadowing
• Teaching
• Networking
• Structured staff training courses: Participation in courses, seminars, conferences

The duration of stay is from 2 days to max. 60 days (without travel days).

Invited experts (experts from abroad):

• Experts from partner institutions from abroad provide training at schools in Switzerland for internationalisation at home.

The duration of stay is from 2 days to max. 60 days (without travel days).

Project duration: 12 or 24 months

Swiss educational institutions that receive or send participants apply to Movetia for financial support. These are vocational schools, training (companies), professional associations, cantonal VET offices or other VET related organisations (public or private).

• Institutions can apply individually or as a consortium.
• Only one application per institution may be submitted per call for projects.
• At least one parnter institution per destination country must be named in the application.
• Individuals are not eligible to apply.

Movetia provides financial support for approved applications.
The overview shows the eligible destination countries and the funding lump sums for travel, stay and organisation.

Funding to the institution coordinating the project is always provided in 3 tranches: 1st tranche (when the contract comes into force), 2nd tranche (after application by the project coordinating institution in the course of project implementation), 3rd tranche (after project completion).

Movetia’s VET team is happy to answer your questions regarding the content and management of the project. Contact us for a personal exchange, if you have any questions or for additional information.

• If you are an institution with a project idea, find out how you can apply for funding.
• If you are an institution with an ongoing project, find out more about project implementation.

Yasmine, Félicien and Sarah took the plunge: they worked abroad during or after their training or met professional colleagues on another continent. All three benefited: they became more independent, improved their communication skills in a professional context and became more proactive. In short, they developped their entrepreneurial skills. 
Find out how the young professionals benefited from the exchange and how it inspired them as entrepreneurs.