Zurich, 26 August 2026
On 26 August 2026, the Chinese Community in Switzerland, with the support of the Kantonales Integrationsprogramm, the Fachstelle DIA der Stadt Zürich, and the Zurich Career Center, successfully hosted a First-Hand Event on the Swiss education system: “Gymi or Lehre?”
Around 30 participants—mostly Chinese and Swiss parents from diverse professional backgrounds—came together, united by their shared role as parents. Mrs Bárbara Bielser, Project Manager at Fachstelle DIA, Stadtentwicklung Zürich, attended the event and warmly welcomed all the participants.
Expert input was provided by Aïda Biscevic and Chiara Castano from the Zurich Career Center, who explained the complexity of Zurich’s educational pathways and the various options available.
A panel discussion moderated by Dr. Jess Jia, Secretary General of the Chinese community in Switzerland featuring:
- Dr. Li Xiaodan, a parent representative whose two sons chose different educational pathways and are both thriving. She also shared her thoughts on the impact of AI on education.
- Ava Rabian, a ninth-grade Gymi student, who spoke about the differences between Gymi and Lehre.
- Elijon Berisha, an engineering apprentice who later continued his education at ETH at the age of 23. He shared his personal educational journey.
- Hong Zhang, founder of Chinese Community in Switzerland, who shared three key aspects of how she supported her son in preparing for and passing the Gymi entrance examination: private courses, parental involvement, and one-to-one German lessons.
- Fabienne Schwizer, a teacher in Zollikon, shared her perspective on the different types of schools in the Canton of Zurich.
The extended Q&A session allowed parents to explore their questions in depth. The conversations continued during the Apéro at Wesley’s Kitchen.
Thanks to the support of the City of Zurich, the event not only provided greater clarity about the Swiss education system but also offered valuable networking opportunities—and even some laughter for the many stressed parents.
The event was praised by the participants as a high-quality and valuable exchange. Parents expressed their satisfaction, noting that the combination of expert insights, personal experiences, and open discussion made the evening both informative and encouraging.
Everyone left the event not only better informed but also reassured and optimistic about their children’s educational journeys.
