Increasingly identical: Convergence factors in the tertiary sector of Switzerland's education system

Convergence in the tertiary education system, which in Switzerland comprises universities, universities of applied sciences, and professional education and training (PET) institutions, is being driven by a number of factors. As a result, the original conception of a clear delineation between the mandates and profiles of these different types of institutions no longer exists. This article analyses the factors leading to this convergence, with a particular focus on the case of universities of applied sciences. It concludes with a description of two possible development scenarios that may emerge from the current problematic situation.