Exchange projects as a Swiss school abroad
Are you a teacher or school principal at a Swiss school abroad and would you like to organise an exchange with schools in Switzerland? Here you will find all the information you need about Movetia's funding offers for such exchanges.
Movetia supports various exchange activities Swiss schools abroad recognised by the Swiss Confederation. The exchanges foster connections between Swiss schools abroad and schools, students and education professionals in Switzerland, strengthen quality and skills development, and help promote intercultural and language skills.
Exchanges create added value
A visit to a school in Switzerland offers exciting insights into teaching practice based on Swiss curricula. It is an opportunity to learn about new methods and innovative teaching concepts in practice. At the same time, a direct contact with a partner school in Switzerland opens up opportunities to initiate joint exchange projects with pupils. Such partnerships promote foreign language learning and enable young people to gain valuable intercultural experience.
The platform matchnmove.ch supports schools in finding partner schools for pupil exchange projects.
Funding opportunities for Swiss schools abroad
Movetia offers national and international funding opportunities for schools.
- The national funding opportunities support projects between schools from different language regions of Switzerland and are also open to Swiss schools abroad. The same conditions apply to Swiss schools abroad as to schools in Switzerland. However, as the national funding programmes are primarily aimed at projects within Switzerland, the funding contributions only cover part of the travel costs from abroad. *
- Swiss schools abroad can only benefit from the international funding opportunities to a limited extent, as only institutions based in Switzerland are eligible to apply. However, they can participate in projects with Swiss schools as partner schools. Funding for all schools participating in an exchange project – whether for projects involving pupils or school staff – must be applied for either by educationsuisse or by a partner school based in Switzerland.
| Funding Offers | What we fund | Financial Support | Application for Funding |
|---|---|---|---|
| Class exchange in Switzerland | Groups of pupils from Swiss schools abroad and schools in Switzerland meet | Lump-sum contributions for travel, stay, accommodation, and organisation * | Must be submitted before the project starts by the Swiss school abroad or a school in Switzerland. Applications possible at any time. Go to the Application form |
| Class exchange abroad | Groups of pupils from Swiss schools abroad and general- education schools in Switzerland meet and work on a joint thematic project | Lump-sum contributions for travel, stay, and organisation for pupils and accompanying persons
Funding can be requested for mobilities from Switzerland abroad as well as from abroad to Switzerland. | The application must be submitted before the project starts by educationsuisse or a school or educational institution based in Switzerland. Application deadlines twice a year: beginning of March and beginning of October. Go to the Application platform (form opens approx. 3 months before the deadline) |
| Individual exchange in Switzerland | Pupils attend a general-education school (primary to upper secondary level) in Switzerland or a Swiss school abroad for a certain period | Lump-sum contributions for travel, stay, and organisation * | Must be submitted before the project starts by the Swiss school abroad or a school in Switzerland. Applications possible at any time. Go to the Application form |
| Individual exchange abroad | Pupils attend a general- education school (primary to upper secondary level) in Switzerland or a Swiss school abroad for a certain period | Lump-sum contributions for travel, stay, and organisation
Funding can be requested for mobilities from Switzerland abroad as well as from abroad to Switzerland. | The application must be submitted before the project starts by a school or educational institution based in Switzerland. Deadlines: beginning of March and beginning of October. Go to the application platform (form opens approx. 3 months before the deadline) |
| Job shadowing and teaching in Switzerland | Job shadowings or teaching activities from teachers, school principals, and other school staff at schools (primary to upper secondary level) in Switzerland or at a Swiss school abroad | Lump-sum contributions for travel, stay, accommodation, and organisation * | Must be submitted before the project starts by the Swiss school abroad or a school in Switzerland. Applications possible at any time. Go to the application form |
| Job shadowing and teaching abroad | Job shadowings or teaching activities teachers, school principals, and other school staff at general education schools (primary to upper secondary level) in Switzerland or at a Swiss school abroad | Lump-sum contributions for travel, stay, and organisation
Funding can be requested for mobilities from Switzerland abroad as well as from abroad to Switzerland. | The application must be submitted before the project starts by educationsuisse or a school or educational institution based in Switzerland. Application deadlines twice a year: beginning of March and beginning of October. Go to the application platform (form opens approx. 3 months before the deadline) |
| Continuing education for school staff (invited experts) | Invitation of trainers, teachers, or other education experts from Switzerland for training, workshops, or coaching for school staff at a Swiss school abroad | Lump-sum contributions for travel and stay of the invited experts as well as for organisational costs | Must be submitted before the project starts by educationsuisse Application deadlines twice a year: beginning of March and beginning of October. Go to the application platform (form opens approx. 3 months before the deadline) |
| Hire a language assistant | Employment of students or graduates from Swiss universities / universities of teacher education with native German or French as language assistants in language teaching | Contribution to salary costs in the form of a lump sum per language assistant | Notify Movetia of the job offer and request placement of a language assistant. Deadline: 31 January. |
Advice
The contact persons for the relevant funding programmes will be happy to advise you. You will find their contact details on the linked programme pages.