Working at SERI: Joel Reeves

What do you do exactly?

I was hired in February to work at the Continuing Education Unit, which is part of SERI’s Vocational, Professional and Continuing Education Division. According to the Continuing Education and Training Act (CETA), individuals are responsible for their own continuing education and training. Employers provide support to their employees in this endeavour. The state steps in where there are specific public interests or where gaps have been identified.

One such gap concerns a lack of basic skills. These include poor reading and writing skills, insufficient command of the local language, poor skills in mathematics and an inability to leverage information and communication technologies. People who lack basic skills are limited in their ability to take personal responsibility for continuing education.

In this context, I am responsible for the ‘Simply better! ... at work’ support programme, which helps companies to reinforce and maintain the basic skills of their employees. Companies organise hands-on training courses covering one or more basic skill areas. Employees benefit in terms of greater occupational safety, motivation and competence. We also subsidise organisations that provide or develop information and coordination services relating to continuing education, for example.

What do you like about your work in particular?

Supporting the acquisition of basic skills is a very meaningful activity, as it empowers those who need assistance and helps them to become more self-reliant in their everyday lives, at work and in society. I particularly appreciate the teamwork and the daily exchanges outside my own unit. Overall, I find my co-workers at SERI to be very open and helpful. I also interact with cantonal officials and representatives of other organisations on a regular basis, which further enriches my daily work.

What challenges do you expect in the near future?

The political headwinds now affecting subsidies for continuing education organisations and cantonal basic skills programmes. As part of its 27th austerity package, the Federal Council intends to remove the legal basis for these subsidies from 2027 onwards. This cost-cutting measure is currently being debated in Parliament. This uncertainty makes long-term planning difficult for many partners.