Varieties Within a Collective Skill Formation System: How VET Governance in Switzerland is Shaped by Associations

Context: International scholarship and policy tend to depict national structures governing Vocational Education Training (VET) as uniform devoid of internal differences. This macro perspective neglects the numerous processes at meso micro level that shape structure content VET. article focusses on professional associations (meso level) in Switzerland examine heterogeneity governance individual VET programmes can exist within one country or collective skill formation system. Approach: Drawing insights from historical institutionalism research corporatism, we argue these differences are product characteristics, traditional practices styles reasoning various involved governance. Our analysis is based expert interviews documents two vocational areas: Electrotechnology food services. Findings: We identify decode an array cooperative show has a different meaning for and, correspondingly, occupations. Collaboration with state actors, unions, schools single firms, well voting procedures, differ considerably between associations. Furthermore, find modes determined by associational characteristics such size, professionalization, location established practices, reasonings. Conclusion: The findings indicate decisions taken not always current day training requirements but historically grown characteristics. Thus, path dependencies be considered only also level. There multifaceted variety approaches beneath classification "collective system". Associations key defining content, working life collectivity.