New forms of learning are needed

New forms of learning are important in order to respond to the challenges and demands of the modern labour market. Technological progress and digitalisation are continuously changing the world of work and require professionals to constantly develop and learn new skills.

Traditional education systems are often not flexible enough to integrate these changes quickly enough. This is confirmed by the World Economic Forum's «Future of Jobs Report» The study highlights how technological advances and digitalisation are changing the skills required in the world of work and emphasises the importance of continuous learning and retraining. In its Skills Outlook report, the OECD also points to the need to adapt education systems in order to respond more flexibly to rapid changes in the world of work.

Learning tailored to the labour market

Innovative learning approaches, such as personalised and self-directed learning, enable learners to learn at their own pace and according to their personal interests and professional goals. In addition, collaborative and practice-oriented learning promotes the development of important soft skills such as teamwork, creativity and critical thinking. These skills are crucial for success in today's highly networked and fast-paced world. Such modern educational approaches make learning more relevant, directly applicable and better tailored to the requirements of today's and tomorrow's labour market.

The IT school 42 is a place where this new form of learning is already being put into practice. 42 presents itself as a future-oriented educational initiative that provides access to excellent IT training for everyone, regardless of their financial or educational background.
This means that no special technical knowledge is required to study at 42. The programme is free of charge and open to anyone aged 18 or over with no programming experience, and all the necessary skills are acquired during the course of study. This promotes equal opportunities in a rapidly growing sector that is urgently seeking skilled workers. The school's unique peer-to-peer learning model, which emphasises practical and self-directed learning, has proven successful at over 50 locations worldwide since 2013.

Work-life balance included

There is already a location in Lausanne, Switzerland, and a 42 school is set to open in Zurich in 2026. Corina Schedler, who works in communications at 42 Zurich, completed part of the selection process at 42 herself and had a positive experience, as she explains. ‘The biggest difference to traditional learning is that no one tells you what to do or when to do it. That's liberating – but also challenging,’ she says. It's not for everyone. As a student, you also have to constantly step outside your comfort zone, for example when you have to give direct feedback to your classmates.

But that's good preparation for everyday working life. Corina Schedler mentions another advantage of the 42 approach: «A course like the one at 42 is not just a response to the shortage of skilled workers, but also allows you to respond to different life circumstances and needs.» A programme designed for self-study at your own pace can accommodate students with care responsibilities and neurodiversity by offering flexible schedules and customisable learning paths that take personal circumstances and learning needs into account. The school also places great importance on providing an inclusive campus.

Does a school that breaks with the traditional understanding of schooling fit into the Swiss education system? Potential employers are sometimes sceptical when they hear about the 42 concept, says Corina Schedler. «In practice, however, the graduates are convincing. They are problem solvers and learn important skills for the future, such as lifelong learning, creativity, adaptability and resilience.»

Graduates from 42 schools are in high demand, as an international overview shows: many students secure job offers or internships even before they graduate and go on to work in areas such as software development, web development, cyber security, data science, artificial intelligence, IT consulting and game development.

Can the 42 concept be applied to other industries? «Absolutely,» says Corina Schedler. «Everyone should have the same opportunity to get an education. The decisive factor is interest. Because interest is what drives learning.»

The images in this article were provided by 42 Zurich and are by Noemi Müller and Niels Ackermann.