Keep It Up Switzerland! Four Empirical Studies on Dual Vocational Education and Training

Abstract

I thank my co-authors -Ursula Renold, Michael Siegenthaler, Thomas Bolli and Ladina Rageth -for their collaboration, their knowledge sharing and their patience. In addition, I thank my inspiring, encouraging and supportive team members with whom I had the pleasure to work and grow. Special thanks go to Thomas Bolli for challenging me to think more like an economist and for explaining econometrics in an understandable way, to Ladina Rageth for being a wonderful office mate, to Katie Caves for productive discussions and language consultations, and to Johanna Bolli-Kemper, Filippo Pusterla, Aranya Sritharan and Silvia Walter for sharing their knowledge, templates and (personal) experiences with me. I also thank Natalie Reid for teaching me how to write articles.Last but certainly not least, I thank my family and friends for their invaluable support and encouragement over the years. This experience would not have ended well without my family. I am eternally grateful to my parents, Maria Esther Egg Orihuela and Edwin Egg, and my sister Alexandra Hofmann for believing in me, pushing me to succeed and supporting me tremendously and unconditionally in every possible way. My husband, Lorenz Oswald, has been my rock in the ups and downs of this adventure. Thank you for being my safe haven, for your truly kind heart, and for taking over so many of my duties and not complaining once -I am forever in your debt! I cannot forget my two wonderful sons, Rafael and Tobias. Thank you for distracting me with your joyful characters, reminding me constantly that life is still happening and for demanding your fair share of my time so I did not miss out on too much of your development. To all my friends, thank you for your friendship and for understanding my time shortage. I am not listing all of your names here, but you are always on my mind.