Auf der stetigen Suche nach Optimierung: Die Rolle der öffentlichen und privaten Akteure in der politischen Ökonomie der Erwachsenenbildung in der Schweiz

Abstract

This article reconstructs the changes in the political economy of adult education in Switzerland since the middle of the 20th century. Methodologically, the analysis is based on historical institutionalism and concentrates on path dependencies and critical junctures. It is shown that the Swiss adult education system is neither exclusively a marked-led nor a stakeholder-led regime. Instead, it is demonstrated that the current situation cannot be understood without considering the several government initiatives in the context of digital change since the 1970s as well as the efforts of the private national continuing education association SVEB. The article concludes with reflections on the expected impact of the first national law on continuing education which has been enacted in 2017.

Erwachsenenbildung in internationaler Perspektive

“…Due to the free-market economic structure of Switzerland, market is the predominant player in the education of adults, too, at least since 1930 (Weber/Wittpoth 1999;OECD 2003;Geiss 2020). Offers are primarily vocational, provided by big private enterprises or private providers interacting with these enterprises and thereby usually reflect the needs of the labour market (Geiss 2020). Non-profit stakeholders balance price and quality in the market.…”

“…Non-profit stakeholders balance price and quality in the market. Through its non-profit Migros Club Schools, the huge for-profit supermarket Migros chain provides quality vocational offers at low prices (Schläfli & Sgier 2008;Link 1955in Geiss 2020Migros Commitment n.d.). Further, all provisions, resources, professionalisation and quality parameters are managed and facilitated by a non-profit umbrella organisation called SVEB since 1950 (SVEB n.d.).…”

“…The SVEB is funded by the Confederation's cultural policy foundation (Pro Helvia) and the Cantons' education policy association using the money of taxpayers who also vote in referenda (SVEB n.d.). While the vocational offers are usually subsidised by the Confederation, non-vocational offers may (not) receive subsidies from the Cantons and civil society organisations (Geiss 2020).…”

“…In the 1970s, structural changes in the economy made vocational offers more relevant and the SVEB started demanding a separate public sector for adult education. This required a constitutional amendment but the Swiss population rejected the proposal thrice (1973, 1986 and 1994) (Geiss 2020). Still, owing to the subsidiarity principle and technological changes in the enterprises, the Confederation started subsidising up to 40 per cent of the total costs for vocational learning (SVEB 1976).…”

Continuing education as value creation

“…However, 'market orientation' does not mean that supply reacts to the infinitely varying demand on the open market; it responds far more to the product portfolios, market segmentation and performance goals defined by powerful market players and adheres to the specifications of the market regime. In Switzerland, it is corporate providers of education, educational institutions, important client groups and professional and labour market rules that regulate continuing education segment markets and render market access conditional (Geiss, 2020). In practice, market orientation means that continuing education providers take preservation of competitive position, conformity with market-defined rules and exploitation of market share in their segments as their maxims in deciding what to offer.…”