Inspired by Switzerland's dual education system

Minnesota Governor Tim Walz visits Bühler Uzwil for insight into Swiss apprenticeship system

Uzwil (Switzerland), November 19, 2025 – Minnesota Governor Tim Walz visited Bühler’s Uzwil headquarters on November 17, 2025, to learn how Switzerland’s dual vocational education system operates in practice. He looked closely at what aspects of the system could help Minnesota build more robust apprenticeship programs.

“During our visit, we saw proof of what is possible when government and private sectors work together to improve job opportunities for our youth. We need more of these opportunities in Minnesota – real jobs that lead to credentials employers actually value,” said Governor Tim Walz.

Governor Walz was accompanied by a delegation of Minnesota business leaders, trade union representatives, and State officials. The group spent two hours at Bühler’s headquarters, visiting Bühler’s CUBIC innovation campus, research and training centers, and Bühler Energy Center, the company’s center for vocational training and adult education. Governor Walz and his delegation met apprentices and instructors, observed training sessions, and discussed how the structured combination of classroom education and paid on-the-job learning is organized in practice.

“This apprenticeship prepares you for the job market in a very practical way,” said David Kitanovic, a polytechnician apprentice at Bühler Uzwil. “By the time you finish, you already know what it means to work in a production environment and what employers expect.”

Bühler North America established its own apprenticeship program in 2012, adapting key elements from Uzwil to the company’s locations in Minnesota. “We designed our program to reflect both US requirements and the proven structure of the Swiss model,” said Patrick Bolt, Apprenticeship Academy Manager at Bühler North America. Tracy Bayer, Vice President of Human Resources at Bühler North America, added, “Developing skilled talent is essential. High-quality training equips our teams and strengthens our long-term competitiveness.”

Solid foundation

“Our teams in the US and Switzerland put significant effort into translating the Swiss approach into a model that works for the American context,” said Stefan Scheiber, CEO of Bühler Group. “Their commitment has created a solid foundation for workforce development, and we are pleased to contribute to Minnesota’s dialogue on expanding apprenticeship opportunities.”

Since 1915, Bühler has been committed to providing young apprentices with career opportunities. In 2024, Bühler trained 565 apprentices globally, with 305 trained in Switzerland alone. The apprenticeships cover 10 different vocational fields and are based on the Swiss dual-vocational model, which combines practical and academic training. The programs are run in 26 locations across Europe, North and South America, Middle East and Africa, and South Asia.