SwissCommunity MARCEL BIERI, PHBERN Faced with a shortage of qualified teachers, Swiss schools are starting to recruit people without formal qualifications. The University of Teacher Education, PHBern, provides novices with numerous means to equip themselves for the challenge. Its Institut für Weiterbildung und Dienstleistungen (IWD) department offers three interlinked training blocks to help students familiarise themselves with the key aspects of pedagogical and didactic practice, and gain a good practical grounding. Training block 1 is also available to complete as part of a summer camp. Those who are already qualified but hold a foreign teaching diploma can also benefit from the wide-ranging advice, courses and further training offered at PHBern, which empower participants in their daily work, create opportunities for networking and enhance professionalism. The “Unterrichten mit ausländischem Lehrdiplom” (Teaching with a foreign teaching diploma) pathway – The place where people learn to teach (again) Many school teachers see their job more as a vocation than a profession. Nevertheless, teachers need qualifications. If you are returning to Switzerland from abroad and want to change careers or try your hand at the front of the classroom again, PHBern gives you the teaching skills you require. The “Unterrichten mit ausländischem Lehrdiplom” (Teaching with a foreign teaching diploma) pathway is the only course of its kind in Switzerland to date, producing 26 graduates in autumn 2025. Photo provided the only course of its kind in Switzerland to date – deserves special mention. This programme provides an essential understanding of the Swiss education and school system, and focuses on the specialist and cross-disciplinary skills relevant for teaching in Switzerland. If you already have a Swiss teaching qualification and want to return to the classroom after taking time out, you are advised to take the modular “Wiedereinstieg” refresher course, which prepares you for school life again, helps you to plan your lessons and informs you of important changes. Movetia arranges language assistant placements at baccalaureate schools, upper secondary specialised schools, and vocational schools in the German- and French-speaking parts of Switzerland. Language assistants gain experience as teaching assistants, discover Swiss culture, and improve their language skills. ■ For students and graduates of a university abroad who are Swiss citizens (Swiss citizens living abroad) or EU/EFTA/UK/US citizens ■ Duration: nine, ten or 12 months (depending on the canton/school) ■ Application: Individual application to Movetia if there is no partner organisation Apply now: The deadline is 31 March each year (or as otherwise agreed). All information is available at www.revue.link/movetia Movetia is a partner organisation of educationsuisse. Movetia – Language assistance in Switzerland Movetia – Exchange and mobilities Effingerstrasse 47, 3008 Berne info@movetia.ch www.movetia.ch Further information (in German): www.revue.link/einstieg www.revue.link/auslanddiplom www.revue.link/wiedereinstieg www.revue.link/phbern Claire Spielmann is one of the young Swiss Abroad who have enjoyed working as a language assistant. Photo provided 33 Swiss Review / February 2026 / No.1
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