Switzerland and the United States will be able to exchange apprentices

Published on October 11, 2024 at 10:33. / Modified on October 11, 2024 at 9:36 p.m.

The United States and Switzerland have just signed a reciprocal international agreement on Friday in Bern which will establish training and internship exchanges for Swiss and American apprentices, we learned. Time. After two Memorandums of Understanding signed in 2015 by Federal Councilor Johann Schneider-Ammann and US Treasury Secretary Penny Pritzker, then in 2021 by the head of the Federal Department of the Economy Guy Parmelin and US Secretary to Labor Marty Walsh and Education Secretary Miguel Cardona, the two countries are moving into high gear in terms of collaboration on learning.

Concretely, the agreement will allow Swiss citizens residing in the Confederation and aged between 18 and 35 to carry out an internship or training in the United States for a period ranging from four to eighteen months. They will obtain a J-1 visa, which is more flexible. Applicants must have graduated from a vocational school or completed an apprenticeship. The converse is valid on the American side. Where equivalences are not required is in language proficiency. Swiss candidates must be fluent in English. American apprentices are not required to speak French, German or Italian. If some of these exchanges already existed, they are institutionalized by the agreement concluded on Friday.

Explore and support “Le Temps” with a one-year subscription at -50%

Flash Sale: -50% on digital subscriptions!

A year of reliable information at half price. Offer valid until October 15, 2024.

I subscribe

Already a subscriber?
Log in