About us
Here you will find all the information about our organisation, our vision and our tasks, as well as the contact details for the Movetia team.
Who we are
We are the national agency for the promotion of exchanges and mobilities in the education sector. On behalf of the Confederation and the cantons, we provide financial support for projects such as class exchanges, exchange semesters and cooperations between institutions. Movetia follows a clear vision: all young people take part in an exchange during their education.
Since our foundation in 2017, we have been the competence centre for exchange, mobility and cooperation. Around 50 collaborators currently work in our offices in Bern.
What we do
Funding opportunities
Movetia supports exchanges, mobilities and cooperation projects. Swiss institutions and organisations wishing to carry out an exchange project can apply for funding from us. We have funding opportunities for all educational levels:
- School education: primary school, lower secondary school and upper secondary school (baccalaureate upper secondary schools, specialised secondary schools)
- Vocational education and training: Training companies, vocational schools, professional associations
- Adult education: e.g. organisations for basic skills, adult education centres, coaching, libraries
- Higher education and higher vocational education: Universities, universities of applied sciences and higher vocational education
- Youth work: youth organisations, open youth work in the municipalities
Promotion
Our services include individual exchanges, group meetings and cooperations - in Switzerland and internationally. We support children, teenagers and young adults in education, as well as teachers, trainers, teaching staff, youth workers and other collaborators in the education sector. Educational institutions or youth work organisations can also apply for funding for cooperations.
The funding is granted by the federal government: The Federal Council and Parliament decide on them every four years as part of the Dispatch on the Promotion of Education, Research and Innovation and the Cultural Dispatch.
In addition to funding opportunities, we are also responsible for promoting exchanges and mobilities. We provide information about our funding opportunities to stakeholders in the education system. With our national learningbygoing campaign, we address young people directly and motivate them to take part in an exchange. With events like the National Exchange Week, first organised in 2023, we raise public awareness on the topic of exchanges. In this way, we multiply the messages in the educational landscape. Our aim is to bring about social change: Exchanges should be a natural part of every education.
Why promote exchange and mobility?
Exchanges have positive effects on three levels:
| Individual | Institutional | Social |
|---|---|---|
| Professional, linguistic and personal skills are strengthened, such as independence, communication skills or intercultural competences. | The quality and innovative capacity of educational institutions are safeguarded and further developed. | National cohesion and the international networking of Switzerland as a centre of business and education |
In order to make better use of this great potential, the Confederation and the cantons have adopted a national strategy for exchanges and mobilities. The vision: all young people should experience an exchange at least once during their education, and exchanges should be firmly anchored in education.
This vision guides Movetia in the fulfilment of its mandate. We want to enable experiences outside of one's own comfort zone that strengthen self-confidence, language skills and professional abilities. Our Ffunding opportunities offer the chance to explore the cultural diversity of Switzerland and other countries. They promote understanding between communities, Switzerland's competitiveness and its integration into the European and international context.