A resounding success for vocational education and training at ETH Zurich

Mechanics ("Polymechaniker") play a key supportive role in research and development when it comes to manufacturing high-tech components or building prototypes of devices and systems. In ETH Zurich’s own workshops, for example, apprentice mechanics produce special turned and milled parts for equipment that is often not commercially available.

Two of these ETH mechanics are Patrik Lange and Simon Martin. Patrik has just passed his final apprenticeship examination (“Lehrabschlussprüfung” or “LAP”) with a mark of 5.7 – the highest achieved by any of the apprentices at ETH Zurich. Simon, on the other hand, had the chance to speak on behalf of all the ETH apprentices at the “LAP party” on Wednesday, ETH Zurich’s farewell event for its graduating apprentices and trainees.

“Completing an apprenticeship is like laying the foundations for a skyscraper; now it’s up to us to build on this and add the rest of the floors,” said Simon Martin in his role as keynote speaker at the HIT building on the Hönggerberg campus.

Trainers dedicate time to their apprentices

Simon added that his training at ETH Zurich has also taught him how to deal with finances and managers. He particularly appreciates the fact that the trainers at ETH take the time needed to help the apprentices and that the vocational education programme is wide-ranging.

Altogether, 56 vocational apprentices and office trainees took LAP examinations this year. “What’s special about this year is that all 56 graduates passed the LAP,” said Dieter Schorno, Head of Vocational Education and Training at ETH Zurich, at the “LAP party” on Wednesday. Schorno also finds it remarkable that around half of the graduating apprentices obtained a vocational baccalaureate and that, in addition to Patrik Lange’s top result, another three apprentices were awarded a mark of 5.3.

Spread across the various vocational fields, the following apprentices have graduated in 2014: nine biology laboratory technicians, two expert maintenance apprentices, three chemistry laboratory technicians, one printing technician, five electronics technicians, one documentation assistant, seven commercial administrators, 14 office trainees, one media technician, five physics laboratory technicians, three informatics technicians, one IT trainee and five mechanics.

A stimulating academic environment

Around 170 apprentices from 14 vocational fields – including commercial work placements – are undergoing training at ETH Zurich. They are supervised by 50 vocational training managers and 120 apprenticeship trainers. “This year we actually have over 170 apprentices,” says Dieter Schorno, “Vocational education is firmly established at ETH Zurich.

Involving apprentices in education and research in this academic environment is especially stimulating and shows that apprentices are perfectly capable of supporting the activities going on at ETH Zurich.” Schorno notes that the demand for apprenticeships at ETH is high, particularly in the strategically important “STEM” subject areas (science, technology, engineering and mathematics).

On Wednesday, Piero Cereghetti, who has been in charge of the Human Resources department at ETH Zurich for 14 years and will be taking on the role of Head of HR at SRG SSR in the autumn, presented the graduates with a gift by way of reward.