Vocational guidance goes VR after 100 years

100 years ago, the canton's first vocational guidance office was established in the Progy schoolhouse in Thun. Today there is talk of virtual reality and artificial intelligence.

In 1918, Albert Münch, a teacher from Thun, became a pioneer in the field of career guidance: on behalf of a group of private initiators, he began to advise and support young people in the Progy school building in order to increase their chances of getting a good education and to counteract the shortage of skilled workers after the First World War. The result is today's Vocational Guidance and Information Centre (BIZ).

Although a lot has changed in the last 100 years - some things are still the same at the BIZ. "We are constantly in contact with schools and teachers," says Bettina Winkler, a long-time career counsellor.

Of course, there are also big differences between today and the time when career guidance was created. Today, about half of the clients are over 20 years old. "We help adults reflect on their professional situation and consciously shape their careers, because many have realised that they need to keep their skills up to date and expand their competences in order to remain attractive to the labour market," says Roberto Veronesi.

The future is digital

Digitalisation will also bring about a change in the way advice is given in the future. "In the past, all information had to be borrowed and collected here," says Bettina Winkler. "Today there is already so much information online that people can find out a lot themselves. We are then there to find a way out of the information jungle and to support people in their decisions and, if necessary, in implementing the next steps."

In the future, artificial intelligence and virtual reality will also play a role, as the career fairs are already doing. "Artificial intelligence could be helpful in selecting different options, and with virtual reality you could get an insight into professions through virtual taster apprenticeships," says Roberto Veronesi. In any case, they have already had their first experience with VR glasses.

Source: Thuner Tagblatt / BIZ Thun