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DOCUMENT RESUME ED 431 074 CE 078 678 AUTHOR Nigsch, Josef; Gunz, Dieter; Jenny, Christoph; Jehle, Karl TITLE Vocational Education in the Principality of Liechtenstein. INSTITUTION Liechtenstein National Authority for Vocational Education, Schaan. PUB DATE 1997-00-00 NOTE 49p.; Supported by the European Union Leonardo da Vinci Action Programme. Information inside front and back covers will not be reproducible because it is printed in colored ink on colored background. PUB TYPE Descriptive (141) Reports EDRS PRICE MF01/PCO2 Plus Postage. DESCRIPTORS Adult Education; Apprenticeships; Career Counseling; Career Guidance; Continuing Education; *Delivery Systems; Economic Climate; *Education Work Relationship; Educational Administration; Educational Cooperation; Educational Finance; Educational History; Educational Legislation; *Educational Policy; *Educational Trends; Elementary Secondary Education; Employment Qualifications; Financial Support; Foreign Countries; Futures (of Society); Government School Relationship; International Cooperation; International Educational Exchange; Job Training; Labor Market; Lifelong Learning; Postsecondary Education; *Program Administration; School Business Relationship; Special Needs Students; Technical Institutes; *Vocational Education; Womens Education IDENTIFIERS European Union; *Liechtenstein ABSTRACT This booklet provides an overview of vocational education (VE) in the principality of Liechtenstein. The following are among the topics discussed: Liechtenstein's government, sovereignty, history, and foreign policy; Liechtenstein's VE system (history, underlying principles, policy, structure, economic framework, legal basis, organization and governing bodies); acquisition of vocational qualifications (career guidance, dual/trial system of initial vocational training, apprenticeships, special types of VE, postsecondary vocational schools and technical colleges, professional qualification in the tertiary sector, education at universities and other academic institutions); continuing education opportunities in Liechtenstein and abroad; costs and financing (investments in VE, state expenditures on VE, VE's contributions to the economy) ; VE from various perspectives (views from the business sector, views from various sectors of industry); access to the European scene (VE and the European Union, areas of cooperation between the European Union and Liechtenstein); and challenges for the future (decreasing numbers of apprenticeships since 1986, females choosing traditional roles, overqualification, integration of less-gifted individuals, initial vocational teaching and-block teaching, learning in practice, modular educational programs, international cooperation). Concluding the booklet are a bibliography and reference list containing a total of 22 references and addresses of 14 organizations concerned with VE in Liechtenstein. (MN) National Authority of Vocational Education LEONARDO DA VINCI Office Liechtenstein_ .0 egaZzr 0:2=, tC=0 ' OF EDUCATION . DEPARTMENT U of Educational Research and Improvement AND Of li PERMISSION TO REPRODUCE INFORMATION EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES DISSEMINATE THIS MATERIAL HAS CENTER (ERIC) reproduced as BEEN GRANTED BY This document has been organization received from the person or originating it. made to 0 Minor changes have been improve reproduction quality. in this Points of view or opinions stated L RESOURCES ° TO THE EDUCATI represent document do not necessarily NTER (ERIC) INFORMATION official OERI position or policy. 1 0 \L.) EST Copy AVAIILATELE A Small Country in the 1 Centre of Europe 2 A Short Survey of the 2 Educational System 4 The Liechtenstein System of 3 Vocational Education 6 Acquiring Vocational Qualifications 4 12 Continued Education 5 in Vocational Life 20 Costs and Financing of 6 Vocational Education 24 Vocational Education from 7 Various Perspectives 26 Access to the European 8 Education Scene 34 Challenges for the Future ,9 40 Epilogue Bibliography References Addresses 42 Preface Education in general and vocational educa- The EU LEONARDO DA VINCI Action Programme tion in particular have become an indispensable on Vocational Education, in which Liechtenstein part of society's intangible investments, as has has been participating since 1995, offers excellent already been argued so aptly in the European opportunities to do this. This initiative presents Commission's White Book on Growth, Compe- manifold possibilities to integrate the Liechten- stein vocational education system into the titiveness and Employment. These days, more than ever before, businesses and employees alike find European educational scene. This will also help themselves faced with the challenge to actively decisively to support the development of vocation- cope with technological and economic changes al education in Liechtenstein. that are developing faster and faster. This is only This brochure on Vocational Education in the possible if they can rely on a system of high-qual- Principality of Liechtenstein, which has been elabo- ity vocational education. rated by the Amt für Berufsbildung (National In the Principality of Liechtenstein these Authority of Vocational Education) in collabora- demands are met to a very high degree. Although tion with the LEONARDO DA VINCI Office in the possibilities of inital and continued education Liechtenstein, is the first source to provide com- available can cover the need for vocational educa- prehensive information on this topic. tion to a limited extent only, they are, neverthe- Many Liechtenstein institutions of vocation- less, a valuable addition to the broad and diverse al education have collaborated in the compilation ranges of educational offers in our neighbouring of this brochure and thus expressed their support countries, which are also open to interested and commitment to high-quality vocational edu- Liechtenstein citizens. One dominant aspect of the cation. I would like to thank to all participants for Liechtenstein vocational education system is the their valuable contributions. I also thank the European Commission, apprenticeship: it guarantees an adequate, practical vocational education based on a close rela- which has provided financial support and thus tionship and permanent exchange between the contributed considerably to the realisation of this two principal Lernorte (learning centres), namely, brochure. the vocational school and the business. In order to keep vocational education attrac- Thomas Michel tive even in the future, we must meet the new Deputy Chief of Government demands and encourage innovations in this field. Minister of Education 4 The Principality of Liechtenstein Form of Government, Sovereignty, and Hi- The Principality of Liechtenstein is a con- story. stitutional hereditary monarchy with a demo- cratic and parliamentary basis; the exercising of state power lies with the Prince as well as the people, who elect the parliament, the Landtag, every four years. The House of Liechtenstein, which has owned possessions in Lower Austria and in Moravia since the late Liechtenstein is situated in the Lake Constance Middle Ages, acquired region and is bordered by Switzerland in the south the domain of Schellen- berg in 1699 and the and west and by Austria in the north and east. lordship of Vaduz in After the Second World War the Principality, 1712. In 1719 Emperor a sovereignty since 1806, developed at breathtaking Karl VI raised the region to the status of speed from being a poor agricultural country into Reichsfiirstentum, a self- a centre of industry and finance. governing territory that was only responsible to the Emperor himself. As a member of the Confederation of the Rhine, Liechtenstein was first acknowledged to have extensive sovereignty in 1806. Skilful political behaviour and action, as well as fortunate historical circumstances, have permitted Liechten- stein to maintain its sovereignty since the dis- solution of the German Confederation in 1866 until today. 5 2 DEST COPY AVAILABLE 1.43 tr- To be recognised by the Foreign Policy. Liechtenstein's political and economic relationships with its neighbouring countries international communlir of states has always been and still is an essential prerequisite for -a small Germany country like Liechtenstein to prove its national CY, sovereignty. Its accession to the European Free Lake Constance Trade Association (EFTA) in 1991 and the Euro- -7-- 7' A pean Economic Area (EEA) in 1995 may be 1, amerwm, considered milestones for an intensified collaboration on a European level. On 9th April 1995 a semelaymont majority of 55.9 % of the population voted in Austria Switzerland favour of the EEA Treaty, which provides for sever- Customs Treaty until 1919 Post Convention since 1921 al specific exceptions and transitional arrange- Since the accession to the EU in Customs and Currency Union Treaty 1995 Austria has been a bridge since 1924 ments for Liechtenstein. as well as a border to the EU A common history, cognate dialects, the Rhine Valley as a common inhabited region by both peoples, many decades of economic and currency union they show how important the close for the way relationship with Switzerland is Liechtenstein sees itself The negative result of the Swiss referendum on the EEA put the Principality of Liechtenstein in a difficult situation, because it meant that the Principality of Liechtenstein two countries would have to go different ways in Area: approximately 160 sq km Population: about 32,000 their European policies. As far as their economic OSCE Final Act signed in 1975 relations are concerned, the idea of parallele Full membership in the Council of Europe since 1978 Verkehrsfähigkeit (parallel membership) brought a and in the United Nations since 1991 solution: since its accession to the EEA, Liechten- Accession to EFTA in 1991 GATT membership since 1994 stein has been able to be a member of two eco- Accession to EEA in 1995 nomic areas, the European and the Swiss one. 6 3 MST COPY AVARLAIRF Historical Development A regular, statutory school system has ex- isted in Liechtenstein since the early 19th century. A Decree issued by the Princely Court Chancellery in Vienna in 1805 required every community to establish a school and a school fund and at the same time stipulated compulsory school attend- ance for all children. The first proper school law dates from 1827 and was continually adjusted and amended in order to A small country is always limited in its capacity to establish live up to social and a system of diverse educational options. In Liechtenstein this pedagogical develop- ments. means that the field of general education is indeed covered 0 After comprehen- very well by national educational institutions; vocational school sive preparation work, education, however, is provided almost completely in in 1971 the Schulgesetz (Schools Act), which is Switzerland. One essential challenge for the national education still in force today, was policy, therefore, consists in an intensive collaboration put into operation. with Switzerland in order to create the framework conditions Since the middle of the 1980s endeavours for which render all option of a well-developed education reforms have been system accessible to Liechtenstein citizens. underway, which have formed the basis for the guidelines on education policy developed in the 1990s. The development of a state-organised vocational training took place only after that of the general school system. The real rise in vocational training occured after the Second World War, as a result of the accelerated economic growth. 7 4 DEST COPY AVAILABLE- Principles of Education Policy The Structure of the Educational System National education aims to offer a system of ge- Liechten- Primary and Secondary Education. neral and vocational education which supports stein maintains its own, well developed system of pupils, students, trainees, and apprentices in compulsory schooling. After having fulfilled com- their personal, social, intellectual, and vocational pulsory schooling requirements, pupils may attend development. the Oberstufengymnasium (a grammar school offering Access to basic general and vocational education only the upper cyde of secondary education), initial is unrestricted and free of charge. vocational training, or a voluntary tenth school School education has the task to enable young year. The latter offers interesting opportunities for people to gain access to a vocational education an enhanced preparation for the choice of profes- which corresponds with their abilities and inter- sion and further promotes the development of the fti) pupils' learning, working, and social behaviour. ests. Studies of foreign languages are particularly pro- Since the institutions of Tertiary Education. moted in order to prepare the students for the tertiary education established in the Principality greater demands resulting from the increasing of Liechtenstein itself can only offer a very limited amount of study courses, the majority of international interconnections in very different areas of life. Liechtenstein students has to study abroad. By vir- By encouraging life-long learning on all educa- tue of the 1976 mutual agreements with Switzer- tional levels, pupils and students should be mo- land and Austria on the equivalence of school- tivated to develop themselves and continue their leaving and university-entrance certificates, the education in the future, too. Liechtenstein Mauro (the final examination taken General and vocational education should achieve at grammar gchool), entitles the student to study a standard which will permit this small country at universities in both neighbouring countries. In to hold own ground in international competition Germany access to individual study courses is even in the future. granted by the federal or Lönder authorities, which Through close collaboration with Liechtenstein's decide on the individual case. neighbouring countries, Switzerland and Austria, The state has assigned adult Adult Education. a range of high-quality options in all fields of education to non-profit-making institutions and education is being strived for. provides considerable financial means to support a large number of educational initiatives for adults. (see survey on pages 22-23) a 5 Economic Framework Conditions At present almost two thirds of the total number of 22,000 jobs are occupied by foreign staff, the majority of whom are international commuters from Switzerland and Austria. A large part of the foreign employees working for Liechten- stein companies have already been well trained for their jobs in their native countries. Renowned experts and specialists often work as executives in the Liechtenstein indus- Liechtenstein can only provide a limited try. The exploitation of amount of resources for the implementation of an other European systems of vocational edu- independent vocational education system. cation by employing However, the system is fully functional because of: foreign . members of practical oriented, basic training in the companies; free staff has been one of the most important access to all school vocational education institutions factors for Liechten- in Liechtenstein and its neighbouring countries; stein's economic pros- and the beneficial exploitation of additional perity. The capital, re- qualifications by employing foreign specialists. search and development intensive products manufactured by Liech- tenstein's industrial companies, which are ex- clusively export-orientated, are successful all over the world. In order to be able to maintain the high standard of products and services, the very well- qualified staff is required. The same is true for the many small and medium-sized enterprises. 6 BEST COPY AVAILABLE 3 The trend towards an expansion of the services, which can be observed in many industrial- ised western countries, is noticeable in Liechten- stein as well. The available range of offers is domi- nated first of all by highly-specialised financial services rendered by banks, trusts, insurance companies, and lawyers' offices to an internation- 0 Total number of employees on 31 December 1994 al clientele. This sector, too, depends on highly qualified staff in order to be able to cope with all Resident population 30,629 the demands of an attractive international fmancial :<4_) Persons without centre. gainful employment 15,870 Despite high production costs Liechtenstein Total number of gainfully employed persons businesses are able to hold their own ground in 21,109 the world markets due to the existing locational Incoming advantages. High-quality specialised products and commuters 7,334 services will also guarantee their competitiveness Outgoing Gainfully Foreigners resident in in the future. Again this requires employees who commuters 984 employed Liechtenstein 5,637 14,759 are highly qualified. Liechtenstein Employed in citizens 8,138 The consistent exploitation of the available Liechtenstein . 13,775 resources offered by the Liechtenstein educational institutions and businesses and a very close cooperation with Switzerland in the field of vocational education are factors of decisive importance which make sure that the Liechtenstein economy will be able to recruit qualified labour. However, in the end the total requirement of labour can be covered only by employing human resources from abroad. 10 7 BEST COPY AVMLABIA