SWITZERLAND 2004
Recently I was lucky enough to be given the opportunity to visit Switzerland to look at their practice firms and attend a national trading event called ‘SwissMeet 04’. Below are some ‘facts and figures’ I found.
SWITZERLAND
Switzerland has a population of 7.261 people, covers an area of 41,284km2 and has 26 cantons (states). People speak generally two or three languages, including:
- Swiss German (63% North, Central and Eastern areas)
- French (19% Western areas)
- Italian (8% Southern areas)
- Rhaeto – Romantic (1% South Eastern areas)
- Other (9%)
- Practice Firms began in 1950, but really developed and expanded in the early 1980’s.
SWISSE NETWORK
The Swisse network is located at La Chaux-de-Fonds and its manager is Laurent Comte (pictured right, at the SwissMeet entrance). The Swisse network is responsible for providing services required to operate practice firms throughout Switzerland. There were 9 Swisse office members at the Swissmeet, but their office employs 12 staff members to operate the Swiss network of 46 practice firms.
FORMAL DINNER
A formal dinner for all participants (students, facilitators, European members) in the Swissmeet was held at the ‘La Birreria’ restaurant in Medrisio on the 21 September 2004. Approximately 300 people attended the event. A band entertained the dinner which was followed by dancing. A four course meal was served with wine or beer followed by coffee. The event began at 7.30 and finished at 3 am! There were several speeches, unfortunately all in Swiss – German. The cost was approximately $120 per head!!
STUDENTS
There are a total of 46 practice firm in Switzerland. Students in 45 practice firms are unemployed people claiming unemployment benefits. One practice firm is in a commercial school where students participate in the practice firm as part of their course.
When a person becomes unemployed they are interviewed by the Swiss Government to determine what career path they wish to pursue. If it is in or has been in the business field (marketing, retail, office administration, sales, finance, purchasing, etc), they are enrolled into a practice firm to either maintain, upgrade or learn new skills in this area.
Above left: Christina, Heidi and Ernst working together in the Purchasing department of Kufon Practice Firm.
HOURS
In the practice firm, the unemployed person must complete a 42 hour week over 5 days. This consists of:
- 22 hours working in the practice firm
- 10 hours looking for employment (includes resume and letter preparation and job hunting)
- 10 hours of classes
Unemployed people are to spend 6 months in the practice firm. The majority of people have obtained a job by this time. Unemployment rate in Switzerland is 3%. People are rarely unemployed more than six months.
Practice Firms begin their day at 8 am and finish at 5.30 pm, with one hour for lunch, 12 – 1 pm.
The practice firms are closed for one week per year (Christmas through to the New Year). There are no other holiday periods. The facilitators take 4 weeks per year and work this out themselves so that there is always one facilitator present.
Students must use the electronic time clock, which is networked to the directors computer. Students must explain any absences to the director, time must be made up. This information is reported to the government regularly by the director. Very strictly and regimentally run.
For the commercial school students, they must attend their practice firm for a full 2 week period, once per year for the second and third year of their studies.
MONTHLY TASK
Students must give one PowerPoint presentation to their practice firm staff per month, using the training room and its facility resources. The subject can be anything the student wishes to cover. The length can vary according to what the student needs.
WEEKLY TASK
At the beginning of the week, a staff meeting is conducted. Following this everyone enters their schedule for the week into Outlook. The computers are networked throughout the practice firm, so each person can see the others schedule for the week.
TRAINING
Training is held within the practice firm in a separate, modern, training room (see right, Kufon Practice Firm training room).
Classes are conducted in languages (French and English), calculation, correspondence, mental training (raising self esteem, maintaining positive attitudes), bookkeeping, etc.
Two separate lecturers take these training sessions, then the lecturer moves into the ‘translation’ position within the practice firm to translate any documents needed. Classes vary in length from 40 minutes to 3 hours.
DUTIES
In the unemployed practice firms, the students are responsible for completing all tasks including the maintenance of procedures manuals. Because practice firms operate five days per week and are so well organised, trade is prolific.
In the Commercial school, the teachers are responsible for maintenance of the procedures manuals and all resources. Again no problem with trade.
ATTITUDES
Students’ attitudes were great. Their self esteem generally high, confident and very happy to be in a practice firm. They believe they would be bored if they were not there. The practice firm helps them maintain their skills, learn new skills and keeps them busy and motivated. Students appeared self motivated and self reliant. Students are proud of their efforts in being able to produce professional documents for their trade.
TRADE
Most trade is done by mail. Electronic trading is used but they believe it is slow and unreliable. There is plenty of trade and keeps them extremely busy. Switzerland trade mainly with Germany, Italy, France, Austria and Switzerland. Web sites are maintained regularly, but on line trading is not accessed greatly.
DRESS CODE
None. Students generally present themselves well. Most dress casually but neatly. There are no uniforms anywhere in Switzerland because people present themselves well (see right). However, at trade fairs, they normally wear a uniform supplied by the practice firm.
Left: Angie in the Marketing Graphics department of Kufon Practice Firm.
MOBILE PHONES
Students can have one, but it must be switched to silent at all times. Strictly monitored.
PRACTICE FIRM RESOURCES
See attached floor plan. The floor plan includes internal telephone numbers and positions and is placed at each persons’ desk.
Kufon practice firm included a ‘kitchenette’ with coffee percolator brewing (right) for student use and a casual eating area (left).
The practice firms in Switzerland are extremely well catered for. Most practice firms are very modern and up to date with sophisticated equipment (see brochures). Had to wonder if it was a real firm or simulated! Each desk has:
20” plasma screen PC (exchange networked throughout the practice firm so that students can email each other and externally, also so they can read each others’ schedules for the week)
a telephone for internal and external use
a colour printer (sometimes per department)
modern ergonomically designed desk and chair
office trays
stationery
plants, decoration
products display supplied by the business partner
excellent lighting and ventilation
professional signage (see below, prepared by students)
Office Equipment, modern and up to date, included:
- colour printers
- binders
- fascimile
- trimmers
- shredder
- staplers
- laminators
- electronic time clock
Documentation in practice firms prepared by students are of a very high standard. Procedures Manuals are written precisely for the practice firm trade operations (ie non course specific). Resources, such as advertising, procedures manuals, pamphlets, invoices, calendars, schedules etc, are all printed in colour, professionally bound or laminated. Pens, clocks, etc are printed with the practice firm names and logos for promotions.
SWISS MEMBERSHIP
1600 CHR per month! This is equal to approximately $1700 per month! Swissmeet is compulsory to attend. The cost to Kufon Practice Firm to attend the SwissMeet was 6000 CHF, approximately $6,500. This included two facilitators and four students, which is compulsory at the SwissMeet (see below).
In Australia, membership of the Australian Network of Practice Firms is $1800/year. To attend a Trade Fair, the price varies according to the venue, but generally a booth at Wayville Showgrounds is approximately $400 for a 3 m x 3 m booth, plus accommodation and travel costs.
FEES
Students do not pay any fees. Government cover the cost. It costs the Swiss government 120 CHF per student per day. This is equivalent to approximately $137. (This equals $685/week/student or $16,440 for 6 months)
SwissMeet booths cost 1000 CHF, (A $1200), which were approximately 6m x 3m.
STAFFING
All practice firms have 2 facilitators to approximately 20 students, with extra lecturers for specialized training sessions. The practice firm is the only responsibility facilitators have. Intakes are rolling. Students can go to whichever department they are interested in. They can rotate through the positions if they want to. Positions include Sales, Marketing, Bookkeeping, Information Technology, Human Resources, Handbook Officer, Receptionist. The two facilitators (director, Jorg Nideroest, right, and assistant director, Annmarie Sormani, below right) offices are within the practice firm. The practice firm is so realistically set up, one wonders if they are in a real organisation or not.
The person who has been in the department or position the longest, is referred to as the ‘manager’ and is responsible for teaching any new staff who enter that department.
GOVERNMENT
Discussions with two government officials show that the government considers practice firms essential for unemployed people. The government sees it as an investment in the future of its people. If they do not keep their unemployed people busy and up-skilled, they believe they will become lazy, bored and cause greater, more expensive problems (such as vandalism, boredom, crime, etc) for the government to finance in the future. They see the cost of practice firms cheaper than the longer term alternative. Government officials attended the SwissMeet to check that all was in order and running as stipulated and required by the government.
Swisse Government research studies (Universite de Neucheitel) into practice firms, shows their worth and value, hence strong government support for the practice firm methodology. Copies coming via email from Annick Weber Richard, Sec La Chaux-de-fonds, CIFC-NE (Secretariat).
SwissMeet 2004
46 Swisse Practice Firms attended the SwissMeet including 3 schools from Bulgaria. It is compulsory for all members of the Swisse network to attend the trade fair. All booths were presented and organised in a highly professional way. The SwissMeet ran for 3 full days starting at 9 am, concluding at 5 pm.
Germany started in 1950, have been strong from the beginning, 10% unemployment rate, practice firms are in schools and adult tertiary education. Germany sees themselves as the instigators of practice firms, along with Austria!
Austria started in 1950, very strong, over 1,000 practice firms in Austria. Compulsory in schools. Austria sees themselves as the instigators of practice firms along with Germany.
Czechoslovakia Poor country, some in schools, but very determined and motivated in practice firm methodology, began in 1990.
Slovakia about 60 practice firms, began in 1990.
Idea of practice firms began in the Middle ages which began within a company.
SOURCES
Kufon Practice Firm, Lucerne – Director: Jorg Nideroest, Assistant Director: Annemarie Sormani.
Kufon Practice Firm Students: Verena Lavina, Heidi, Barbara, Ernst, Angie, Elly, Regula, Christina, Miriam.
Suisfood and Suishome Practice Firm, Lugano, Mr Fabrizio Fasani, Director
Government Official – SwissMeet 2004, Chiasso, Lugano
Bear International Practice Firm – Director: Marcus Saurwein, Assistant Director: Bea Reichle
CIFC-NE, SecLa Chaux – de – fonds: Annick Weber Richard (Secretariat)
IN SUMMARY
Following are some comparisons remembering that the practice firm concept has been in operation in Switzerland for approximately 54 years whereas in Australia it has only been operational for 9 years.
Practice Firms in Switzerland are clearly more advanced and fully supported for their operation than in Australia. Staff and student numbers in Australia are commonly one facilitator to 20 – 25 students while in Switzerland it normally is 2 facilitators to 20 students. Staff in Switzerland are required to attend formal facilitator training yearly. In Australia facilitator training is done informally, on a ‘as needs’ basis and normally on top of other duties. In America, facilitators attend one week per year training in New York. The first three days are spent in a business partners’ organisation for on the job training, then three days are spent with the Network for ongoing facilitator training. The cost for this training is $US400, whilst travel and accommodation costs are covered by the training organisation. Australia urgently needs centralised formal training for facilitators, along with adequately funded and resourced practice firms for them to reach their fullest potential of the facilities that are available.
Resources (equipment, materials, practice firm rooms, etc) are of a far higher quality in Switzerland and clearly simulate a real business. Clearly government supports for the practice firm methodology is regarded highly, as an investment in the future of their unemployed people and therefore supply all necessities for efficient operation.
Facilitators in Switzerland are required to only work in a practice firm without any other duties or distractions. Facilitators in practice firms in Australia are normally involved in other duties such as open learning, trainee coordination, workplace assessing, other classes etc. This does not allow our practice firms to develop to their fullest potential, function and trade fully. Funding for practice firms and associated resources in Australia are short, resulting in practice firms that are outdated and poorly resourced, but not lacking in motivated students and staff.
The SwissMeet Trade Fair was much more professionally presented and clearly financial support from both the government, business partners and the private sector is evident. Australian Trade Fairs normally entail a lot of fundraising activities by the students and facilitators and tendering for council/board financial support. The enthusiasm, motivation and initiative however, is highly evident at both Australian and Swisse Trade Fairs.
As a result, SportzBiz Practice Firm is currently redesigning it’s procedures manuals to reflect the Swisse model. This will reflect a more modern, simplistic approach allowing our practice firms to be accessed by any program that wishes to participate. In future, not only will Office Administration use the practice firm, but Information Technology, Financial Services, Marketing, Management, Tourism, Retail, etc, can be involved. Investigations are taking place to improve our technological processes to allow more functionality and efficiency within the practice firm. Many ideas and examples that were collected, have been and continue to be, shared at a state and national level for practice firm participants.
Communications and networking will continue between myself and the Swisse contacts I made.
Prepared by
Penny Hardy
TAFE SA Regional
Port Pirie Campus
Marlene
Cheers Robby