The new guidelines for the ERI area contain clear demands from the business world to politicians. In the future, primary school should focus even more on teaching basic school language and mathematics skills, but also strengthen critical thinking, self-discipline, and scientific and technical skills. Furthermore, economiesuisse is clearly against raising the baccalaureate rate and in favor of strengthening dual vocational training. Connected to this is the need to reconsider the offer of secondary technical institutes and in no case to expand it further.
Maximum possible autonomy for universities
The economy also sees potential for improvement in higher education. The three-year degree is to be requalified in all subjects as an independent degree with a broad basic education, while specific in-depth studies are reserved for the master’s degree. Furthermore, in the new guidelines, economiesuisse advocates the greatest possible autonomy for universities in matters of research, teaching and funding. The success of research and innovation also depends on the opening of borders, on the free exchange of people, products and services.
A successful research site requires a good education
New trends and challenges are forcing businesses and society to repeatedly question previously successful recipes. This applies in particular to education, research and innovation (ERI) as the main pillars of the Swiss success story. Knowledge, problem solving skills, motivation and creativity do not fall from the sky, but are the result of a high quality education, on which research and internationally competitive innovation can only build. It is the task of politics to create the optimal framework conditions for this.
Link to BFI guidelines
