More than 4,600 Young People Take Part in the Swiss National Mobility Week

15/12/2025

More than 4,600 young people are participating in the 3rd National Mobility Week in Switzerland, taking place from 24 to 28 November. Organised by Movetia, a member of the EARLALL network, in close cooperation with the Swiss cantons, the initiative promotes language learning, intercultural understanding, and mobility among young learners.

This year’s edition marks a new record, with participation increasing by one third compared to 2024. Students from across the country are temporarily leaving their classrooms to meet peers in another linguistic region, gaining first-hand experience of Switzerland’s cultural and linguistic diversity.

The official opening event in Bern brings together high-level political representatives, including Federal Councillor Guy Parmelin and Christophe Darbellay, President of the Swiss Conference of Cantonal Ministers of Education (EDK), underlining strong political support for exchange and mobility initiatives.

A Growing Initiative with Strong Institutional Support

Initiated by Movetia and supported by the Federal Office of Culture, the National Exchange Week takes place in a context where mobility and exchange are increasingly recognised as powerful tools to strengthen language competences. This approach was recently reaffirmed by the Swiss cantons in a joint declaration on the coordination of language teaching.

The initiative showcases how cooperation between national agencies, regional authorities, and education providers can successfully scale up mobility opportunities.

First-Time Inclusion of VET Learners

A key innovation of this third edition is the inclusion of vocational education and training (VET) learners. For the first time, more than 30 apprentices are taking part in short-term mobility experiences in another language region, supported by a wide range of host companies.

Examples include:

• A trainee restaurant specialist from Lucerne completing a placement in Ticino
• A future automation technician from Zurich undertaking an internship in Lausanne

These exchanges offer young VET learners an initial experience of language immersion and different working cultures, reinforcing the value of mobility in vocational pathways.

Celebrating Learner Mobility in Bern

On 25 November, a dedicated event on VET mobility will take place in Bern, bringing together policymakers, practitioners, and stakeholders in the field. On this occasion, the Oertli Foundation’s National Exchange Prize will also be awarded to three outstanding projects promoting learner mobility.

Source: Movetia