(Image: Pixabay CC0) The Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts and the national organization of the world of work ICT-Vocational Training Switzerland have entered into a university partnership with retroactive effect from January 1, 2023. The university partnership promotes the exchange and coordination between vocational training and university education in the field of information and communication technologies (ICT).
With around 2,500 ICT apprentices every year, vocational education and training is the largest source of students for universities and the basis for around 80 percent of all ICT degrees. Six out of ten apprentices in an information and communications technology (ICT) occupation complete tertiary education within five years of completing their apprenticeship. At universities of applied sciences, as many as two out of three students in the ICT field have a vocational training qualification. The Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts and ICT-Berufsbildung Schweiz have entered into a university partnership to ensure that the transition to all areas of tertiary education is as seamless as possible and that the training models are ideally coordinated.
Potential in the area of cyber security
The partners regularly exchange information on product and professional developments and provide each other with expertise and experience as needed. ’Especially in the area of cyber security, where the economy has a very large additional demand, we can benefit from each other,’ says Dietmar Eglseder, Head of Higher Vocational Education at ICT-Berufsbildung Schweiz. The national association offers two degrees in the field, the federal certificate ’Cyber Security Specialist’ and the federal diploma ’ICT Security Expert’, while the Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts offers a renowned bachelor’s degree in Information & Cyber Security.
Broad range of IT education under one roof
Since 2016, the Department of Computer Science at the Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts has been bringing together computer science disciplines under one roof at its campus in Zug-Rotkreuz. Bachelor’s degree programs are offered in Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning, Digital Ideation or International IT Management, among others. In the Master’s program, students delve into the areas of computer science or business informatics - and since 2022, also in the internationally oriented degree program ’IT, Digitalization & Sustainability’. In addition, there are continuing education courses at CAS, DAS and MAS level, as well as specialist courses. Numerous partners benefit from the expertise and project competence of the researchers and the network of the Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts. Starting next year, computer science and mediamatics apprentices will also be trained directly at the department. Sarah Hauser, Vice-Director of Education at the Department of Computer Science, is convinced: ’With the new cooperation, we are even closer to the issues that affect the next generation of computer scientists and vocational training - and can continue to develop our educational offerings in a forward-looking manner.’
Examining body on behalf of the federal government and industry
ICT-Berufsbildung Schweiz is the examining body for the federal certificates in ICT Application Development, ICT Platform Development, Business Informatics, Cyber Security and Digital Collaboration, as well as for the federal diplomas ICT Manager and ICT Security Expert. In the area of basic vocational training, the association is also responsible for the federal vocational qualifications in information technology and mediamatics. In addition to the Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts, the Fernfachhochschule Schweiz (FFHS) and the Fachhochschule Graubünden are university partners of ICT-Berufsbildung Schweiz.
