WATCHMAKING SCHOOLS IN SWITZERLAND

Over the years, Switzerland has become the guardian of watchmaking know-how and has a large number of schools on its territory. Most of them are public, but there are also private ones and others in the form of foundations.

Watchmaking having historically arrived in Switzerland in part through France, a majority of these schools are located in the French-speaking part of the country, although the majority of the country is German-speaking.

PUBLIC SCHOOLS

There are six public watchmaking schools in Switzerland. They mainly train students over three or four years and they obtain a Certificat fédéral de capacité (CFC). The objectives of the CFC are defined in the training ordinances which reflect the needs of the companies and are regularly updated in partnership with the Swiss watchmaking schools under the aegis of the employers’ association and the supervision of the SEFRI.

There are two training options, the full-time route at the school and the dual route in the company. The weekly organization of the training is identical and is structured in two distinct parts, the theoretical teaching given in both tracks at the School and the professional practice. The difference concerns the acquisition of practical skills, which takes place in a workshop at the school rather than in a company for the dual track.

Other shorter training courses exist for production watchmakers who receive a Federal Certificate of Vocational Training (AFP) at the end of their training. In parallel or following a CFC, a federal maturity can be obtained. Following a CFC, further training, normally of two years, can lead to a higher diploma called Brevet fédéral (BF).

Switzerland is founded on the basis of federalism, and this is also reflected in its education. Although these six schools lead to the same degrees, they do not always follow the same path to get there.

These schools have sometimes changed their name in the course of their history, following, among other things, various cantonal reforms.

VAUD – ECOLE TECHNIQUE DE LA VALLEE DE JOUX

Rue G.-H. Piguet 41, 1347 Le Sentier

secretariat.etvj@vd.ch

Tél. +41 21 557 43 00

Site internet

SOLEURE – UHRMACHERSCHULE GRENCHEN

Sportstrasse 2, 2540 Grenchen

zeitzentrum@dbk.so.ch

Tél. +41 32 654 27 00

Site internet

JURA – ECOLE DES METIERS TECHNIQUES

Cité des Microtechniques, 2900 Porrentruy

info@divitec.ch

Tél. +41 32 420 35 50

Site internet

PRIVATE SCHOOLS

There are private watchmaking schools in Switzerland which are sometimes also structured as foundations. Some schools teach in the language of their location and sometimes in English.