Target group and skills: Who is the Childhood Educator HF course suitable for? What qualities and skills are required?

The following groups of people belong to the target group for training courses to become a Childhood Educator HF (formerly Kindererzieher / Kindererzieherin HF):

• Young professionals with an apprenticeship qualification (EFZ) as a care specialist (FaBe)
• Nursery and education professionals who would like to develop their professional skills
• Career changers who would like to switch to childcare

Specialists in the field of childhood education should have the following personal qualities and skills:

• Enjoy working with children/young people
• Empathy and patience
• Sociability and communication skills
• Noise resistance, physical and mental resilience
• Design and craftsmanship skills
• Imagination and good ideas
• Sense of responsibility
• Tolerance and trust

Requirements for admission to childhood education training, studies at a higher technical college

The universities of applied sciences decide independently on the admission procedure for childhood education studies.* The procedure is set out in the study regulations of the respective university of applied sciences.

As a rule, the following admission requirements must be met in order to be able to begin training or studying at a college of higher education to become a Childhood Educator HF (formerly Kindererzieher / Kindererzieherin HF):

• Federal certificate of competence (EFZ) as a care specialist (FaBe) or at least an equivalent qualification

Or

• Completion of basic vocational training (EFZ) in another field, high school diploma, vocational baccalaureate, federally recognized technical secondary school certificate or other at least equivalent qualification and at least 400 hours of practical experience in the field of childhood education. (For people with a purely academic background: at least 800 hours)

And

• Passed the admission procedure/suitability assessment of the respective education provider. (The structure and procedure of the process or clarification varies from school to school)

Also for part-time training models:

At least 50% employment in the field of childhood education during the training.

Notes:

• Recognition of previous educational achievements / acquired skillsPersons who already have a relevant federal certificate (BP) or relevant federal diploma (HFP) reduce the duration of the course. A list of the relevant qualifications can be found in theFramework curriculumto the course.
• Persons with aHF diploma in the social sector, can obtain the HF diploma in the field of childhood education more easily. Detailed information can be obtained from the schools or the sponsors of the course, the Swiss Platform for Training in the Social Sector (SPAS) and the Swiss umbrella organization for the social world of work (SAVOIRSOCIAL)

* The courses offered by the universities of applied sciences (HF) are based on framework curricula developed jointly by education providers and industry associations and approved by the State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation (SERI). If the PET colleges adhere to existing framework curricula in the detailed design of their courses, their PET courses are federally recognized and lead to a protected title.

Subject matter and content of the training

As a matter of principle, the colleges of higher education offering training as a childhood educator HF (formerly child educator HF) follow the guidelines of the "Childhood Education HF" framework curriculum when compiling the course content. The Swiss Platform for Training in the Social Sector (SPAS) and the Swiss Umbrella Organization for the Social Work Sector (SAVOIRSOCIAL) are the sponsors of the framework curriculum. They are responsible for the creation of the framework curriculum and its periodic review in terms of topicality and quality.

Nevertheless, the HFs have a certain amount of leeway in the design of their study programs in the field of childhood education. Which course content is ultimately covered and how it is structured (e.g. breadth and depth) can therefore vary from HF to HF.

As a rule, the following topics are covered and skills are taught:

• Plan and implement pedagogical actions(including recording and analyzing the child's living environment, perceiving and analyzing the child's educational and developmental process, developing and refining the educational concept, stimulating the child's educational processes, entering into and maintaining educational partnerships)
• Accompanying and supporting children in everyday life(e.g. building and shaping the relationship with the individual child, designing the rooms and spatial environment for the child in a development-promoting, safe and needs-oriented way, observing children in everyday life and adapting educational activities accordingly)
• Developing your own professional identity(including dealing with challenging and changing situations, perception and reflection of one's own professional role)
• Process evaluation and process documentation(including analysis and documentation of pedagogical actions and processes)
• Working in a professional environment(e.g. teamwork, cooperation with other specialists and specialist agencies, building and maintaining a network)
• Participation in organizational development(including assumption of management tasks and management responsibility, quality development and quality assurance, development and management of projects)

Costs and financing of further training

The costs are determined independently by the respective higher vocational colleges. In addition to the provider, the level of costs also depends on the training model and other services (e.g. supervision). In general, the following costs must be expected for the HF degree program in Childhood Education HF (formerly Childhood Educator HF):

• Tuition feesbetween CHF 9,400 and CHF 14,500 for students resident in the training canton*. The costs for the examinations and diploma thesis are generally included in the course fees.
• Additional costsSome providers charge extra costs for registration/enrolment, student ID, pre-courses (optional), teaching materials, course materials, examination/diploma thesis and examination retakes. For further details, please contact the provider of your choice directly.

* Courses at universities of applied sciences are financially supported by the cantons. Students from outside the canton pay higher tuition fees. The following conditions apply in order to receive cantonal funding:

• at least two years of residence in the canton
• The course is listed on the EDK (Swiss Conference of Cantonal Ministers of Education) list of eligible courses (you will find the link to the list in the answer texts).

Duration of study, training models, number of teaching hours, teaching format and learning effort

• Duration of study:The HF degree course in Childhood Education (formerly Childhood Educator HF) has a modular structure and lasts 4 - 8 semesters, depending on the training model offered (e.g. full-time with integrated internships or part-time) and previous education.
• Training models:The course is offered on a part-time or full-time basis. In the part-time model (so-called dual course of study), a relevant professional activity is pursued in addition to the school-based educational components in a minimum 50% workload. The full-time model comprises school-based and practical vocational training, with the latter being completed in the form of one or more supervised internships.
• Number of lessons:With a relevant EFZ, the course comprises 3600 learning hours. For courses without a relevant EFZ, the number of learning hours generally increases to at least 5400 learning hours; please contact the school of your choice. Professional activity during part-time training is counted towards the training period with a maximum of 720 learning hours with a relevant EFZ and a maximum of 1080 learning hours without a relevant EFZ. Contact studies (face-to-face teaching, practical analysis, supervision, group work, etc.), self-study, supervised practice and the final qualification procedure (QV) also count as learning hours. How these learning hours are divided up in terms of time is defined in the framework curriculum.
• Teaching format:Many schools now offer a mix of face-to-face and online courses (online, hybrid teaching, blended learning).
• Learning effort:You should allow sufficient time to prepare for and follow up on the lessons and for self-study - how much depends on your prior knowledge, working style, learning speed and chosen training model. We recommend that you allow at least 4-6 hours per week for the part-time model.

* As already mentioned in step 3, the learning hours are reduced for persons with a relevant EFZ, federal certificate, federal diploma or HF diploma.

Note: Some schools offer so-called "taster lessons". This gives you the opportunity to gain an insight into the lessons and the learning atmosphere. Important aspects on the way to a successful graduation. It is best to contact the school of your choice directly for a taster lesson.

Degree, diploma and title

In the degree course to become a qualified childhood educator HF (formerly child educator HF), learning progress and performance are assessed periodically. In addition, there is at least one so-called "doctorate", which covers the achievements in both the academic and practical areas of education.

The HF program in Childhood Education concludes with a final qualification procedure, which includes the following parts:

1. Practical qualificationThis part of the examination takes place in a situation relevant to the professional activity.
2. Practice-oriented project work or diploma thesis: Candidates have the opportunity to demonstrate their knowledge, skills and networked thinking. The topic for the thesis is approved by the school. It is often written at the end of the course. Here too, the time frame is determined by the respective HF in its study regulations.
3. Examination interview:In an interview with the experts, candidates present their work (e.g. project work, dissertation, analysis, etc.) in accordance with the requirements of the training provider. They are required to be able to justify and reflect on their professional activities from a professional and political perspective and to be able to make connections to other situations.

The details of implementation are regulated by the respective HF in its study regulations.

Diploma and title

Graduates of the course receive an HF diploma and are entitled to use the federally recognized and protected professional title "Dipl. Kindheitspädagogin HF / dipl. Kindheitspädagoge HF".

In French: "Éducatrice de l'enfance diplômée ES / Éducateur de lènfance diplômé ES"

In Italian: "Educatrice dell'infanzia dipl. SSS / Educatore dell'infanzia dipl. SSS"

In English (recommended, but not a protected title!): "Child Development Worker, Advanced Federal Diploma of Higher Education"