State Leaders, Educators and Employers Bring the Swiss Apprenticeship Style to Indiana
Indiana is collaborating with experts from Switzerland’s ETH Zurich to develop a comprehensive apprenticeship program for high school students, with the goal of expanding from 500 to 50,000 apprenticeships in the next decade.
“A broad Indiana coalition including legislators, the state community college Ivy Tech, the Indiana Department of Education and Indiana Chamber of Commerce have visited Switzerland under CEMETS’ direction,” wrote Patrick O'Donnell in an article for the Indiana Capital Chronicle. “Committees of executives from several industries have also taken trips to see Swiss companies and schools in their field.”
Inspired by the Swiss model, Indiana aims to integrate career training into the high school experience, allowing students to split time between school and work in industries like healthcare, manufacturing, and IT. The initiative seeks to address the state's skilled labor gap while providing students with practical skills and upward mobility.
Dr. Sue Ellspermann, president of Ivy Tech Community College, explained how her institution has been involved in the effort.
“Ivy Tech is proud to be a member of the CEMETS iLab Indiana coalition. Several of the College’s leaders and I have participated in the coalition’s delegations to Switzerland, meeting with companies, industry associations, and education and training providers to discuss how we can build a statewide system of apprenticeship that’s inspired by the Swiss, but Hoosier by design."
Ellspermann highlighted Ivy Tech's role in developing Indiana’s apprenticeship system.
"As Indiana’s singly accredited community college, Ivy Tech is uniquely positioned to support the implementation of this next-level transformation that will allow students to explore and master career pathways while earning postsecondary degrees and credentials in an intentional and cost-effective way,” she said.
Nicole Otte, Director of Workforce Development at Endress+Hauser, echoed the sentiment, explaining that Switzerland's model could transform Indiana's education landscape.
“In Switzerland, approximately 70% of students choose to enter an apprenticeship around 15-16 years old. This is an inverse currently in Indiana where nearly 60% choose to attend college, but only about 50% of those students finish. The Swiss apprenticeship model will provide Johnson County and Indiana students the best of both worlds."
Both Ellspermann and Otte envision collaboration between local schools and employers as critical to success. Ellspermann cited the Johnson County Advanced Manufacturing Program (JC AMP) as a promising example.
"Through JC AMP, students can earn an associate degree from Ivy Tech in industrial technology while concurrently earning their high school diploma," she said.
Ellspermann added that paid, on-the-job training with companies like Endress+Hauser, NSK, and Caterpillar Remanufacturing is a key part of the program.
Otte said that employers should be at the forefront of mapping out industry roles.
"Employers in Johnson County, just like in the rest of the state, should be at the forefront of mapping and planning out the specific industry roles needed and then working collaboratively with other companies in their industry to align on competencies and training plans for those roles."
Otte mentioned key industries that will be involved.
“Four core industries: Advanced Manufacturing, Banking, Healthcare, and Life Sciences,” said Otte. “They have already begun this work, and additional industry sectors have been identified including Information Technology, Construction, Sports Entertainment & Hospitality, and Microelectronics.”
With Indiana's diploma requirements set to change in 2029 to allow more flexibility for work-based learning, the apprenticeship system is poised to benefit both students and employers.
Ellspermann sees the potential to tackle the skilled labor shortage while improving outcomes for students: "Apprenticeships provide the kind of practical, hands-on learning experience that today’s students want and value."
As Otte reflected on her visit to Switzerland, she acknowledged the time that it took to develop their system.
"It took Switzerland nearly 30 years to evolve their apprenticeship system into the model that exists today. This work will not happen overnight, and it will take evolution and intentionality to get it right. But we can’t let the large hurdle deter us from the work. We must start on this journey to afford our students the opportunities and our industries the talent to develop."
Both Ivy Tech and Endress+Hauser remain optimistic about the impact of expanding apprenticeships in Indiana, particularly in tech, science, healthcare, and advanced manufacturing fields. By bridging the gap between education and industry, the initiative promises to equip students with the skills needed to thrive in the evolving workforce while addressing critical labor shortages for employers across the state.