Chair of Education Systems

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Schweiz
Zürich, Zürich
Chair of Education Systems

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The Chair of Education Systems (CES) conducts highly relevant theoretical, empirical and translational research. We teach

Our aim is to generate meaningful research that has an impact on the education and employment systems of countries around the world.

18/09/2026

We are delighted to invite you to the Farewell Lecture of Prof. Dr. Ursula Renold at ETH Zurich.

After many years dedicated to research and education system reform, Prof. Renold will reflect on her work in her lecture:

“The Arc of Reform: Raising the Performance of Education and Training System Reform”

📅 9 December 2026
🕔 17:15–18:30
📍 ETH Zurich Audimax, HG F 30

The lecture marks a special occasion to look back on Prof. Renold’s academic work and her contribution to education system research and reform in Switzerland and around the world.

👉 Register here: https://forms.cloud.microsoft/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=7KY0lmaio0WrFHTEIR_Fgh-CErLmQM1FpTxDuykJvixUMDBCQUJCS085OVhUNVJGUUJESTlHMFRWQi4u

We look forward to welcoming colleagues, partners, alumni, friends, and everyone interested in education system reform to this special occasion.

16/09/2026

149 Reform Leaders. A growing community helping shape the future of education in Nepal. 🇳🇵

A highlight of our August visit was the CEMETS iLab Graduation Ceremony in Kathmandu, organized by our consortium partner, Kathmandu University (KU). Members of 20 Reform Teams came together to celebrate the graduation of the third cohort of CEMETS Reform Leaders.

Across the three cohorts, 149 leaders from all three levels of government, industry organizations, and schools have participated in the initiative, building the skills to initiate, implement, and evaluate education reforms.

The value of this growing community extends beyond the ceremony. It connects people across institutions and sectors and strengthens Nepal’s capacity to develop and sustain education system reform.

Our visit also provided an opportunity to reflect on the broader development of Nepal’s TVET sector. Under the leadership of Matthias Meier, Deputy Head of Mission at the Embassy of Switzerland, we had a highly engaging discussion with Nepal’s Minister for Education and Sports.

The Minister expressed his appreciation for the long-standing cooperation with the Swiss Government and showed particular interest in the CES Impact Study Nepal, which documents the achievements and evolution of our 10-year collaboration with a wide range of stakeholders across Nepal’s TVET sector.

🔗 CES Impact Study Nepal:

Congratulations to all Reform Leaders, and thank you to our partners at Kathmandu University, Dhulikhel, the Swiss Development & Cooperation, and everyone contributing to this long-standing collaboration.

08/07/2026

It is Day 4 at the CEMETS Alumni Institute 2026

Successful reform starts with people.

Today’s programme focused on leadership, organizational change, and the individuals who make transformation possible.

Dr. Julia Dannath-Schuh shared inspiring perspectives on leading change, followed by impact study presentations from Uzbekistan, Benin, and Nepal.

The Serbia case workshop encouraged participants to exchange practical experiences and identify solutions that can strengthen education systems across different contexts.

Swipe through today’s highlights and see collaboration in action.

Thank you to all speakers, country teams, and participants for another inspiring day.

Uzbekistan Benin Nepal Serbia Zurich Switzerland

08/07/2026

The third day at the CEMETS Alumni Institute 2026 focused on why evidence matters for building future ready education systems.

A keynote by Prof. Dr. Dr. h.c. Uschi Backes-Gellner explored a decade of research on the value of dual vocational education and training, while Manuel Sager led an inspiring panel discussion on building sustainable reform capacity.

Today we welcomed excellent contributions from the , , and teams, and participants exchanged lessons learned during the cross-case synthesis and poster presentation session.

Thank you to everyone for another day filled with meaningful dialogue and international collaboration.

CES_ETHZ EducationReform VET Chile Ukraine SouthAfrica Zurich Switzerland

06/07/2026

Today at the CEMETS Alumni Institute 2026, we explored what truly drives successful education system reform. 🚀

The day opened with Prof. Dr. Ursula Renold, who shared her insights on what really drives reform success.

The keynote sessions then explored different dimensions of education reform. Ambassador Arno Wicki explained how applied science can support education reform, and Prof. Dr. Isabel Guenther highlighted why randomized controlled trials (RCTs) matter for reform processes. Together, we saw how evidence, international cooperation, and rigorous research can strengthen long-term reform efforts.

We also delved into the findings of our impact studies on the USA and Singapore, followed by a Nepal case workshop that sparked valuable discussions on translating research into practical reform.

Thank you to all speakers, reform leaders, and participants for an engaging start to the week!

USA Singapore Nepal Zurich Switzerland

06/07/2026

We are delighted to welcome participants to the CEMETS Alumni Institute 2026! 🎉

International education reform leaders arrived in Zurich for registration, a warm welcome, and a kickoff session where teams introduced themselves and previewed the week ahead.

A true Swiss welcome awaited guests at the Zurich Marriott Hotel, where an apéro riche brought old friends and new faces together over good food and even better conversation.

Six days of exchange, evidence, and shared learning start now.

13/05/2026

🇸🇰 Shaping the future of vocational education together.
On 23 April, our team had the privilege of joining inspiring discussions in Bratislava on the future of dual vocational education and training (VET), lifelong learning, and innovation in skills development. 🎓🤝
Together with representatives from ministries, industry, and education, we officially launched the Capacity Accelerator: Building Capacity in VPET for the Next Generation of Slovak Reform Leaders.
With more than 60 participants, the kick-off workshop created a dynamic space for collaboration, fresh perspectives, and meaningful dialogue on the opportunities and challenges shaping the future of VPET in Slovakia. 🚀
A sincere thank you to all partners, speakers, and participants for your engagement and contributions. We look forward to the ideas, progress, and impact that will emerge in the months ahead. 🌍✨

23/04/2026

Big moment at ETH Zurich 🎓✨

Our apprentice Eric Lötscher had the unique opportunity to interview Spencer J. Cox during his official visit with a delegation from Utah 🇺🇸

From discussions on education systems to innovation and AI, this exchange showcased the power of young voices in shaping the future.

Proud to see our apprentices stepping up and engaging on an international stage 👏

19/03/2026

Young graduates often face difficulties entering the labour market despite holding a university degree. During the latest SRF Impact shoot at ETH Zürich, Lena Dändliker, Head of the Swiss Education Lab, shared insights into the current challenges graduates encounter when transitioning from education to employment.

In today’s rapidly evolving working environment, employers increasingly emphasize soft skills such as flexibility, resilience, and teamwork. At the same time, practical experience plays a decisive role, as companies frequently face uncertainty about which technologies and tools will shape the future workplace.

This is where vocational education and training (VET) demonstrates a relative advantage. By combining education with structured workplace training, learners acquire labour-market-relevant competencies from the beginning. Thanks to the permeability of the Swiss education system, vocational pathways also keep opportunities for higher education open.

We were pleased to be present during the filming of this important report and thank the SRF News- Schweizer Radio und Fernsehen Impact team for the engaging exchange and the opportunity to contribute to the discussion on education and the future of work.

🔗 Full report: https://www.srf.ch/sendungen/dok/kein-job-trotz-studium-bachelor-master-und-dann-arbeitslos

17/03/2026

Congratulations to Dr. Amela Zubovic on her successful PhD defense! 🎓

Her dissertation in applied economics, supervised by Prof. Dr. Ursula Renold and Dr. Katie Caves, uses survey experiments to study decision making and preferences.

We are very proud and wish her all the best for the next steps in her career. 🚀

Adresse

STB J 16, Stampfenbachstrasse 69
Zürich
8092

Website

https://ces.ethz.ch/

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