Review Swiss Education Forum: "Everyone Educates Himself"

Those who want to continue their education are spoiled for choice. Swiss universities currently offer 317 master's, 128 diploma and 543 certificate courses for the inquisitive. This is hardly surprising, since continuing education is the topic of most employee discussions. It is seen as a worthwhile investment in one's own future, as the measure of all things in order to remain compatible in the working world. But is this really the case? The University of Applied Sciences St.Gallen (FHS) set this question as a guard rail at the 6th Swiss Education Forum on March 30 and even went a bit further: "Is continuing education a lifelong task or are we possibly just lifelong prisoners in the ever-growing, unmanageable jungle of offerings?"

Continuing education requires inner resources

Prof. Dr. José Gomez, head of the Center for Higher Education ZHB-FHS, immediately clarified in his presentation: "Education means much more than learning, also more than a qualification." Education, he said, should be understood as self-education, a kind of shaping of personality and the ability for self-determination. Continuing education aims at knowledge, establishes the transfer into practice, but also demands time and money. Therefore, it should be flexible in design. "Despite the valuable building blocks that continuing education provides, it is no guarantee of success," he adds. Just as important, he says, are inner resources such as interest, motivation, perseverance and the will to want to do even better. "People are not educated, they educate themselves."

"Learning by doing"

A vivid example of self-education is Florian Reiser, successful entrepreneur and co-owner of Focacceria in St.Gallen. He once trained as a psychiatric nurse. But he traveled the world and did whatever he felt like. For example, he became a snowboard instructor, an experiential educator or something else active. In the process, he kept coming up with new ideas. He did not complete any further training in the classical sense. Rather, his motto is: learning by doing. I've always loved shortcuts," he says, "and that's how it is with me in continuing education, too. I get knowledge from everywhere." He sometimes takes a long trip to find the best ravioli recipe. Beatus Zumstein is different: He already has three master's degrees under his belt, and the only thing left to do is write his fourth thesis. It is the constant challenge that excites him. This has shaped his teamwork and his orientation in society. But it also brings its pitfalls: "I've also experienced that I was classified as overqualified, or people had the feeling that I was a theoretician.

Continuing education as an "anti-aging pill

Added to this is age: presenter Sabine Bianchi quoted figures from federal statistics that said that people over 40 undertake less continuing education. Prof. Dr. Reto Eugster, head of the WBZ-FHS continuing education center, confirms these figures. At the FHS St.Gallen, too, the proportion of older people is rather low; only in the field of health is it somewhat higher. Martin Bircher, Managing Director and HR Manager of Movis AG, explains this with the life situation: "Around 40 to 50, people are fully committed to their careers, take care of their families, and there is hardly any time left for studying. "In any case, continuing education is very much appreciated at our company. It is a good guide for recognizing what you are doing well and what you are doing wrong. It is the ideal transfer of knowledge into practice," says Bircher. Entrepreneur Reiser takes a pragmatic view: "No matter what age, you just have to keep at it." The universities, however, are challenged. According to Eugster, the trend is more toward in-house training to reduce absences. Students' individual demands are also higher today, he said, coupled with the question of how much time one can or wants to invest. Ultimately, however, it is a matter of lighting the fire and arousing curiosity.

The Swiss Education Forum of the FHS St.Gallen has shown: Continuing education is more than just theory or a diploma that you can show to your employer. You also acquire social skills, the ability to deal with conflict and team spirit. "We have the chance to learn something every day. In countless ways. Whether lifelong or lifelong is up to each individual," says Sebastian Wörwag, Rector of the FHS St.Gallen.

Further information on the Swiss Education Forum (presentation by Prof. Dr. Gomez): www.fhsg.ch/bildungsforum