Apprenticeships

Our apprentices spend between 3 and 12 months in a number of different working groups, learning about the methods they use. The work assigned to them includes sampling, preparation of samples, analysis using modern equipment, and evaluation of the results.

This approach enables the apprentices to spend time in a large number of departments, thus ensuring their training is both broad-based and varied. In each year of their apprenticeship they attend courses in our in-house laboratory in order to gain initial and deeper knowledge of the fundamentals.

We work together with training partners in industry, namely Bachema in Zurich and Coca Cola in Dietlikon. There are opportunities for our apprentices to be assigned to one of these companies, and thus to receive even more comprehensive training in the areas of analytics and quality control.

The apprentices meet up with others in the same training year for weekly Q&A theory sessions during which they complete practice tasks to extend their knowledge.

There is also an opportunity to attend the Berufsmaturitätsschule (college offering preparatory courses for the federal vocational baccalaureate examination) and to continue these vocational studies at a university of applied sciences after passing the final apprenticeship examination and the federal vocational baccalaureate.

Apprenticeship requirements

• Finished lower secondary school achieving level A (Sekundarschule Niveau A)
• Able to communicate clearly in written and spoken German
• Willing to learn
• Enthusiastic
• Motivated
• Able to work independently
• Responsible for own work results
• Good at communicating
• Able to work in a team
• Patient, persevering and reliable
• Interested in the processes of natural science and excited about experimenting
• Good at observing
• Able to think outside the box

Advantages of an apprenticeship at Eawag

What we offer:

• You receive an optimal introduction to the institute and the professional environment
• We provide broad-based and varied training via our various departments and partner companies
• The external industry courses that complement on-the-job training are held in our in-house laboratories
• You will join an enthusiastic group of apprentices and attend weekly Q&A theory sessions to discuss what you have learnt in your studies
• We have a well-linked network of over 20 apprentices
• The focus is on your personal development
• We expect you to take responsibility for your own work results and support you in doing this
• We help you with language stays abroad
• You prepare comprehensively for your final examination

Further information on this profession

Berufsbildungsschule Winterthur (vocational college)
Fachverband Laborberufe FLB (association for laboratory professions)

Dübendorf, as well as in the departments of Surface Waters Research and Management and of Fish Ecology and Evolution in Kastanienbaum (Canton of Lucerne)

In the areas of microbiology and toxicology they receive training in fundamental microbiological and toxicological methods and an insight into drinking water bacteriology. They learn biochemical isolation and analysis techniques and immunological procedures, and gain an insight into molecular-biological working methods. In the departments of Aquatic Ecology, Surface Waters Research and Management, and Fish Ecology and Evolution, they learn how to identify the invertebrates typically found in watercourses and groundwater and are trained in the relevant sampling techniques. They then analyse the microfauna and microflora living in plankton and the benthic (bottom) zone. The apprentices meet up with others in the same training year for weekly Q&A theory sessions during which they complete practice tasks to extend their knowledge. There is also an opportunity to attend the Berufsmaturitätsschule (college offering preparatory courses for the federal vocational baccalaureate examination) and to continue these vocational studies at a university of applied sciences after passing the final apprenticeship examination and the federal vocational baccalaureate.

Apprenticeship requirements

• Finished lower secondary school achieving level A (Sekundarschule Niveau A)
• Able to communicate clearly in written and spoken German
• Willing to learn
• Enthusiastic
• Motivated
• Able to work independently
• Responsible for own work results
• Good at communicating
• Able to work in a team
• Patient, persevering and reliable
• Interested in the processes of natural science and excited about experimenting
• Good at observing
• Able to think outside the box

Advantages of an apprenticeship at Eawag

What we offer:

• You receive an optimal introduction to the institute and the professional environment
• We provide broad-based and varied training via our various departments and partner companies
• Additional courses that complement on-the-job training are held in our in-house laboratories
• You will join an enthusiastic group of apprentices and attend weekly Q&A theory sessions to discuss what you have learnt in your studies
• We have a well-linked network of over 20 apprentices
• The focus is on your personal development
• We expect you to take responsibility for your own work results and support you in doing this
• We help you with language stays abroad
• You prepare comprehensively for your final examination

Further information on this profession

Berufsbildungsschule Winterthur (vocational college)
Fachverband Laborberufe FLB (association for laboratory professions)
Arbeitsgemeinschaft der Lehrbetriebe für die Biologielabor-Berufe (working group of institutions providing apprenticeships in biological laboratory professions)

During their 3-year training period at our research institute our business administrator apprentices (specialism: Services and Administration) get to know many different fields and gain an insight into almost all areas of administration, which trains them optimally for their future profession. They spend scheduled periods of time in various different departments and have the support of motivated and professionally qualified practical trainers at all times.

Once they are familiar with central services departments such as the post room, housekeeping, reception, the telephone switchboard and the library, the apprentices learn the diverse tasks carried out by a research department secretariat. Foreign languages play an important role in this – English is the lingua franca in international research.

The practice-oriented Eawag courses (PEAK) and Public Relations are managed by our support departments. In these departments our apprentices learn about organising courses and sending out publications. Accounting and procurement of funding are also key elements in business administration and form an integral part of the training plan. Finally, in the HR department our apprentices learn to manage confidential data and to deal with all aspects of the employment relationship, from drawing up the contract to the employee leaving the institute.

At the end of their apprenticeship they have a comprehensive basic knowledge that they can later build on through specializing in a discipline of their choice.

Motivated apprentices with a desire to achieve above-average results can choose to undertake basic vocational training that will prepare them for the federal vocational baccalaureate (profile M). If they pass this they can apply to any higher education colleges of business and administration (Höhere Wirtschafts- und Verwaltungsschulen) in the whole of Europe without the need to take an entry examination.

Apprenticeship requirements

• Finished lower secondary school achieving level A (Sekundarschule Niveau A)
• Interested in business administration tasks
• Able to touch type
• Able to speak and write well in German and good at foreign languages
• Enthusiastic about working at a computer/screen
• Enthusiastic about working with numbers
• Good at organizing
• Willing to learn
• Enthusiastic
• Motivated
• Sociable
• Able to work independently
• Responsible for own work results
• Good at communicating
• Able to work in a team
• Patient, persevering and reliable
• Able to think outside the box

Trial apprenticeships

Trial apprenticeships are only offered as part of the apprentice selection process. If you are interested, please send an enquiry to Patricia Summer Rossi.

Advantages of an apprenticeship at Eawag

What we offer:

• You receive an optimal introduction to the institute and the professional environment
• We provide broad-based and varied training in various different departments
• The focus is on your personal development
• We expect you to take responsibility for your own work results and support you in doing this
• You prepare comprehensively for your final qualifications
• We contribute to the cost of support courses and language stays abroad

Further information on this profession

Berufsbildungsschule Uster (vocational college)
IGKG Züri, industry courses (Überbetriebliche Kurse)

As ICT Specialist, you will be the first point of contact for support questions from our colleagues.

You will get to know the individual operating systems (Windows 10, Mac OS, Linux) and standard software. Since we look after practically the whole IT infrastructure ourselves, you will also have an insight into our client server architecture (Active Directory, print/file/mail servers) as well as our network.

After a reasonable settling in period, you will be taking care of and supporting our colleagues in their day-to-day business. Our IT trainees thus gain a broad spectrum of professional knowledge during their training, which sets them up perfectly for their future career.

There is also an option to attend vocational college part time and then go on to specialist higher education upon successful completion of the trainee qualification and vocational exams.

ssprüfung und bestandener Berufsmaturitätsprüfung in eine weiterführende Fachhochschule einzutreten.

Apprenticeship requirements

• Completed Level B secondary education
• The ability to communicate clearly in German both verbally and in writing
• Good English communication skills
• An interest in information technology generally, and in computers and networks specifically
• Enjoy being with others
• Well-mannered
• Work well in a team
• Independent and systematic work
• Patience, tenacity and reliability
• Willingness to learn
• Well-motivated and hard-working
• Good sense of responsibility
• Logical and abstract thinking and conceptual ability

Trial apprenticeships

Trial apprenticeships are only offered as part of the apprentice selection process. If you are interested, please send an enquiry to Thomas Kälin.

Advantages of being a trainee at Eawag

What we offer to trainees at Eawag

• Superb introduction to the Institute and to the working environment of your chosen career
• Broad-based and varied training
• Your own personal development is given central priority
• Independent working is encouraged and supporte
• Intensive preparation for your final exam

Further information on this profession

Vocational training school Uster
Zurich Association of Computer Science Teachers