SWITZERLAND

What words come to mind when you hear the name Switzerland: central, mountains, lakes, banking, chocolate, technology, yodeling, railroads, or neutral? Switzerland is known for a variety of disparate reasons, but what unites them is a country that embraces the strength that comes from diversity. The Swiss landscape awes visitors from the moment they get a glimpse of those first mountain peaks or stare into the depths of a Swiss lake. Switzerland can boast some of the finest technological research facilities and institutions in the world, but at the same time they maintain a quaint persona as the home of yodelers and the famous Heidi. And of course there is the continuing enigma of Switzerland's position as a 'neutral' country despite their centrality in Europe. But perhaps Switzerland's greatest achievement and the reason they deserve a place in the pantheon of world influencers, is their chocolate!

 Education: In order to maintain their high-level technology and research and development, the Swiss place great importance on their education system. Compulsory education begins at age five and continues through grade nine. Students can then either pursue vocational studies or attend a higher-level secondary school in preparation for university studies. The majority of students choose to pursue vocational studies, which combine theoretical studies with on-the-job internships, before entering the work force or continuing at a technical college. Switzerland has ten well-respected Cantonal universities focusing on specific areas of study including science, economics, humanities and law. In addition, two Federal Institutes of Technology - ETH in Zurich and EPFL in Lausanne - are among the most prestigious academic institutions in the world. Both are nationally funded and conduct research in all areas of physical, biological, and computer sciences, while maintaining a rigorous involvement in the international scientific community.

Australia   New Zealand    USA    Canada    UK   Singapore   Swizt  Japan      Germany      Korea     Spain      Sweden      India    HK

HOME