South Africa and Switzerland have signed a new Joint Declaration of Cooperation on Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), aimed at enhancing the quality and impact of vocational education through closer collaboration between government, industry, and educational institutions.
The agreement was signed by Minister of Higher Education and Training, Buti Manamela, during President Cyril Ramaphosa’s State Visit to Switzerland from 29 to 30 October 2025. The visit has been described as highly successful, deepening bilateral ties between the two nations in education, research, and cultural cooperation.
Supporting South African Researchers in Switzerland
As part of the visit, Minister Manamela met with a group of South African doctoral and postdoctoral students studying in Switzerland through the Department of Higher Education and Training’s International Scholarship Programme. The session allowed scholars to share their experiences and propose ways to improve the programme, especially in accessibility, mentorship, and long-term academic support.
The students also had the opportunity to engage directly with President Cyril Ramaphosa, expressing their commitment to contributing to South Africa’s scientific and intellectual growth.
Manamela reaffirmed government’s dedication to building a research-intensive post-school education system, explaining that the scholarships form part of the Presidential PhD Programme, supported by the National Skills Fund and the Department of Science and Innovation.
According to the department, Switzerland has become an increasingly important partner in the initiative. The number of South African scholars based in Swiss institutions is expected to grow as government expands postgraduate training opportunities and strengthens international research collaboration.
Expanding Industry Partnerships Through TVET
Manamela highlighted that the new agreement will increase Swiss private-sector involvement in South Africa’s dual apprenticeship model, which combines structured workplace learning with classroom instruction.
“This aligns closely with South Africa’s own TVET transformation agenda and efforts to strengthen industry alignment across priority sectors. There is room for many more companies, especially in manufacturing, agri-processing, engineering, and pharmaceuticals, to play a bigger role in skills development, both through direct training and curriculum support,” the Minister said.
President Ramaphosa and Swiss President Karin Keller-Sutter also showed their support for the initiative with a joint visit to the Vocational and Further Education Training Centre in Wil-Uzwil, where they observed the Swiss vocational training system in action — a model praised for its ability to bridge the gap between education and the labour market.
Boosting Research Cooperation and Knowledge Sovereignty
During the visit, Manamela met with senior leadership and researchers at the University of Bern to discuss expanding collaboration in fields such as public health, environmental science, big data ethics, and doctoral training. The discussions also focused on supporting South African universities that have historically had limited access to international research networks and funding.
The Minister emphasised the importance of research sovereignty in an era where knowledge is increasingly commercialised, saying that both countries recognise the need to protect and grow public research capacity. This includes investing in local innovation ecosystems and developing joint doctoral programmes that address social challenges rather than just market demand.
Progress was also made toward establishing a South Africa–Switzerland University Forum, which will serve as a long-term platform for academic exchange, joint research, and institutional partnerships across various disciplines.
The new partnership between South Africa and Switzerland marks a major step forward in advancing vocational training, higher education, and scientific cooperation — paving the way for a stronger, skills-driven economy and a globally competitive post-school education system.
