What does the day-to-day work of an instructor with a Federal Diploma of Higher Education look like?

Trainers with a Federal Diploma of Higher Education work part-time or full-time in the initial and continuing education, further training of adults. They often work for several employers on a self-employed basis or are responsible for in-house training at larger companies. Training and coaching people is the main focus of their work. The main task of trainers is the development and planning of training measures, as well as their implementation and evaluation. To create training sequences, they either draw on existing curricula or design individual course concepts. Their tasks also include researching and providing suitable teaching materials and aids. Their teaching activities also include advising, supporting and encouraging individual learners, as well as preparing for and following up on examinations.

The tasks of trainers with a Federal Diploma of Higher Education are

• Organizing events and follow-up support
• Train employees
• Conducting courses, seminars and conferences for educational and leisure centers, clubs, associations and trade unions to impart theoretical and practical expertise
• Planning training programs and developing new training sequences
• Evaluation of training needs for companies, institutions or specific target groups
• Development of suitable training sequences
• Consideration of technical, methodological-didactic as well as educational, organizational and financial framework conditions
• Define learning content and learning objectives with the client
• Developing and designing training materials, maintaining web-based training tools, advertising and communication materials
• Competent support for individuals and groups
• Accompany, motivate and support learners in the learning process and check their progress
• Other tasks: administrative work such as preparing for exams, correspondence, attending training courses and courses for your own continuing education, further training

(Note: The weighting of the individual areas of responsibility can vary greatly depending on the company and job profile).

Typical functions are

• Trainer / Instructor
• Lecturers
• Course instructor
• Trainer
• Training supervisor / training supervisor

Target group and skills: For whom is the Federal Diploma of Higher Education "Instructor with Federal Diploma of Higher Education" suitable? What qualities and skills are required?

The "Trainer" courses are aimed at:

• People from adult education (with educational practice)
• People who want to specialize in in-company training within their company
• Education experts
• Trainers in companies and organizations
• Trainers of apprentices
• Line managers and employees with training functions
• HR professionals
• Self-employed in the field of adult education

Important qualities and skills for the profession of trainer are

• High level of expertise in own specialist area
• Enjoy working with adults and teaching
• Interest in educational issues
• Good general education
• Good communication skills
• Ability to deal with conflict
• Confident appearance
• Pedagogical interest
• Organizational talent

Requirements for admission to the Federal Professional Examination in Adult Education:

Persons are admitted to the final examination (Federal Professional Examination) as trainers who:

• has a Federal Diploma of Vocational Education and Training, the Matura (Specialized Baccalaureate or Baccalaureate) or an equivalent qualification,
• can provide evidence of a total of 300 hours of training activity as a trainer (spread over at least four years)
• has the required module qualifications or certificates of equivalence

Some schools also require a personal aptitude, a professional aptitude, a federal course certificate for vocational trainers (Art. 44 BBV), knowledge of German at level B2, enjoyment of digital forms of teaching and learning or the willingness to lead the learning process in self-study and to engage in a personal process.

Candidates will be informed in writing no later than 15 working days after the QSK meeting whether they meet the requirements for the Federal Professional Examination for Trainers - in the event of rejection, including reasons and instructions on how to appeal. After admission, the candidate must submit the qualification dossier within 12 months. After this period has expired, the candidate must re-register for the central review.

Note: In some cases, it is also possible to start training as a trainer without professional experience or with only 75 hours - enquire in detail at the selected training institute. However, initial experience in accompanying adults (learners/students/employees) will clearly benefit your learning success. It is therefore strongly recommended that you carry out your own practical or learning support at the latest parallel to attending the training course.

Learning material and contents of the trainer course:

The subject matter of the preparatory courses for the Federal Diploma of Higher Education for Trainers is based on the requirements of the responsible body for the Federal examination, the SVEB Swiss Association for Continuing Education, Higher Education and Training.

The training content is divided into the following modules and steps:

• Old system since 2015:
  • Level 1 basic qualification:
    • Module AdA-FA-M1: Conducting learning events with adults (SVEB certificate course instructor, 13.5 ECTS)
      • AdA FA-PA-E: From practical support to course management
      • Ada FA-PA: Carrying out learning support with individuals
  • Level 2 Specializations leading to the Federal Diploma of Higher Education for Trainers:
    • Module AdA-FA-M2: Supporting group processes in learning events (120 learning hours, 4 ECTS)
    • Module AdA-FA-M3: Supporting individual learning processes (82 learning hours, 2.5 ECTS)
    • Module AdA-FA-M4: Designing educational programs for adults (130 learning hours, 4.5 ECTS incl. supervision)
    • Module AdA-FA-M5: Didactically designing learning events for adults (138 learning hours, 4.5 ECTS incl. supervision)
    • Supervision (must be attended parallel to module 4 or 5, 5 sessions, min. 16h)
• According to the new Ada construction kit from 2023:
  • Group module: The "SVEB-Zertifikat Ausbilder / Ausbilderin - Durchführung von Lernveranstaltungen" (formerly "Kursleiter/in") or the "SVEB-Zertifikat Ausbilder / Ausbilderin - Einzelbegleitung" (formerly "Praxisausbilder/in") are at the beginning of your continuing education, further training (14 days).
  • Advanced modules (can also be attended in parallel with in-depth modules):
    • Accompanying module: Advanced module to accompany learning groups and individual learners (7 days)
    • Didactics module: Advanced module for the didactic conception and design of learning events for adults (7 days)
  • Three modules that can be attended simultaneously
    • Transversal module: do not plan too early in the continuing education, further training to develop professional understanding in the working environment (1 day / 5 half days)
    • Networking module: at the end of the continuing education, further training, to design and enable learning transfer (2 days / 3 half days)
    • a specialization module of your choice (can be taken at the same time as advanced modules):
      • Supporting group processes in learning events (4 days)
      • Conceptualize and design online learning offers didactically (4 days)
      • Competence-oriented planning and design of qualification procedures (4 days)
  • Federal Professional Examination for Trainers

Worth knowing:

• The time and costs involved in the new and old systems are roughly the same.
• Training can be started and continued in the new or old system (valid for up to 10 years).
• There is aTransition to the new system- e.g. with Module 1 from the old system, you can go straight into the advanced modules. If you have the old Module 2, you can omit the in-depth module. If you have the old Module 3, you can omit the advanced module "Accompaniment".
• The specialist certificate (in the new system) is obtained via an external Federal Professional Examination.
• Competence orientation, emphasis on the transfer of learning, lifelong learning and the understanding of roles are innovations that correspond to the future-oriented understanding of education.
• Digital learning settings such as blended learning and moderated e-learning support the learning process in the new variant and ensure up-to-date knowledge transfer.

Costs and financing of training in adult education:

Depending on the provider and the duration of the course, the costs of continuing education, Higher Education with Federal Diploma of Higher Education differ slightly. On average, these amounts are to be expected:

• Course fees:between CHF 8'500.- and CHF 13'900.-
  After taking the exam, you will receive around 50% of this back from the federal government on application (regardless of the result)*.
  Note: Members of the Kaufmännischer Verband receive a 10% discount on the costs of training courses and courses offered by individual training providers
• Basic certificate SVEB certificate instructor:between CHF 3,200 and CHF 4,500 for the organization of learning events or individual support
• Examination fees:CHF 680 (as at: 2023)
  The examination fee is set by the responsible body of the Federal Professional Examination. It is paid by the candidate after confirmation of admission to the instructor examination.
• Extra costs:At some schools, the costs for enrolment fees, teaching materials, training documents, books, hotel fees, seminar flat rate, supervision, intensive exam training, simulation exams, registration fees, school diplomas and interim degrees are not included in the course fees. Please contact the provider of your choice directly to find out what additional costs you can expect for continuing education, further training.

*Since 1.1.2018, preparatory courses for Federal Professional Examinations have been financially supported by the federal government. Graduates of this course can therefore be reimbursed up to 50% of the course costs paid (max. CHF 9,500) after taking the federal examination. In exceptional cases of hardship, the federal contributions are also paid out in advance.

Duration of study, number of teaching hours and learning effort for continuing education, further training for trainers:

• The continuing, further training for trainers has a modular structure (i.e. some of the competencies are assessed in module examinations before the Federal Professional Examination and are only tested across modules at the final examination) and lasts 2 to 3 semesters while working. It comprises approx. 35 to 38 teaching days (including 14 days for the basic certificate). The total number of lessons for the five modules is approx. 115. Due to the modular nature of the course, the training can be arranged flexibly in terms of time. The SVEB certificate is valid indefinitely - modules 2 - 5 must be completed within five years.
• Lesson times vary depending on the provider of the training to become a trainer. As a rule, lessons take place in full days, evenings, half days, block courses or seminars.
• Many schools now offer a mix of face-to-face and online courses (online, hybrid teaching, blended learning) as well as self-study.
• Thanks to the extra-occupational concept of the continuing education, further training course for trainers, you can apply and deepen the learning material immediately in practice. Nevertheless, you should allow sufficient time for preparation and follow-up of the lessons and for self-study - how much depends on your previous knowledge, working style and learning speed. As a precaution, we recommend that you allow at least 7 - 10 hours per week. In addition, you will be required to attend approx. 75 hours of your own classes during the course.

Note: Some schools offer so-called "taster lessons". This gives you the opportunity to gain an insight into the lessons and the learning atmosphere. These are important aspects on the way to successfully completing your training as an instructor. It is best to contact the school of your choice directly.

Degree, diploma and title:

Once the Quality Assurance Committee (QA Committee) has approved and confirmed your admission, the assignment for the performance dossier will be sent to you at least 12 weeks before the submission deadline. You will be informed of the exact date of the assignment in a separate invitation in good time. Once the performance dossier has been checked by the examination experts, the examination results are determined and approved by the QSK in a legally binding manner. The result is then communicated in the examination application via the candidate's personal profile. The assignment and QSK meeting take place quarterly at the required intervals.

The degree varies depending on the system chosen:

• Old system trainer since 2015:
  • The proof of competence for SVEB modules 2 - 5 must be submitted by the participants together with the SVEB 1 certificate to the office of the Swiss Association for Continuing Education and Further Training (SVEB) for central verification.
  • As the only Federal Professional Examination in Switzerland, candidates do not have to take a written examination when applying for the certificate. Instead of a final Federal Professional Examination, there is aCentral verification (ZÜ)of the evidence of competence submitted in the module courses. The evidence of competence submitted in the qualification dossier and the corresponding assessments of the lecturers of the modules are second assessed by experts mandated by the SVEB.
  • After a successful examination, the SVEB issues the Federal Diploma of Higher Education "Instructor".
• According to the new Ada construction kit from 2023:
  • Performance assessment: Performance assessments are carried out in each of the modules. These usually consist of written examinations, presentations on case studies and case examples, individual or group work and follow-up assignments.
  • at least 300 hours of teaching experience over at least 4 years (teaching at least 3 people with a minimum age of 16 years, 100 hours of which can be individual lessons and learning support for individuals)
  • ThePassing the final examination"Trainer" by setting tasks for the preparation of the written performance dossier and an online audit

Diploma and title "Trainer"

Graduates of the Federal Professional Examination receive a Federal Diploma of Higher Education and are entitled to use the federally recognized and protected title "Instructor with Federal Diploma of Higher Education" or "Instructor with Federal Diploma of Higher Education".

• In French: "Formateur avec brevet fédéral", "Formatrice avec brevet fédéral"
• In Italian: "Formatore con attestato professionale federale", "Formatrice con attestato professionale federale"
• In English: "Trainer in Adult Leaming with Federal Diploma of Professiona! Education and Training" (Attention: This is only a recommendation/translation and not a protected title)