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Organization

ECAP manages 33 educational centers in Switzerland, which are headed by nine regional offices in Aarau, Basel, Bern, Lamone, Lausanne, Lucerne, Solothurn, Winterthur, and Zurich. The executive management is based in Zurich.

Our courses are based on a quality charter and a quality assurance plan, which provide the framework for planning, implementation and evaluation. ECAP is certified with the eduQua label, the Swiss quality certification for continuing education institutions. This certification confirms the high standards of our work and is a prerequisite for public subsidies in many cantons.

The governing organs of ECAP are the Council of Foundation, the Presidium,and the Executive Board. Their tasks and areas of responsibility are defined in the statutes and internal regulations.

Executive Management

The executive management is responsible for the operational implementation and leadership of the organization.

Central Services

ECAP’s central services play a key role in coordinating and ensuring the effective functioning of the entire foundation. They support all ECAP locations and departments across Switzerland and combine important specialized and support functions in the areas of finance, human resources, IT, and trainees’ education.

Council of Foundation

The Council of Foundation is responsible for the strategic management of the foundation. The Presidium performs representative duties and supports the strategic leadership.

Other members

  • Marco Barbato, National Administration, CGIL (Italy)
  • Peppina Beeli, Policy Department, trade union Unia
  • Enrico Borelli, Secretary, trade union Unia
  • Manola Cavallini, Negotiations and Labor Market Representative, CGIL (Italy)
  • Monica Ceremigna, Project Manager for European and International Policy, CGIL (Italy)
  • Ornella Cilona, Project Manager for European and International Policy, CGIL (Italy)
  • Gaetano Mincuzzi, Head of the Organizing Department, CGIL (Italy)
  • Mauro Moretto, Co-Head of the Tertiary Sector, trade union Unia
  • Simonetta Ponzi, Head of Joint Continuing Education Funds, CGIL (Italy)
  • Martin Tanner, Vice President, trade union Unia

Ombudsman’s Office

Lawyer MLaw specializing in discrimination, mobbing and sexual harassment
Laura Aeberli
: ombudsstelle-ecap@advokatur-aeberli.ch

Scientific Committee

A scientific committee meets twice a year. It not only oversees ECAP’s activities but also reviews its strategic direction from a broader perspective. The committee is chaired by Andreas Rieger.

Our portrait

Our programs are primarily aimed at adults with an immigrant background, independent of their immigration status, educational level, or language skills. We place special emphasis on promoting access for individuals with limited educational opportunities.

To achieve our goals, we offer a wide range of educational activities:

  • General, language, and vocational education
  • Promotion of basic skills
  • Training and continuing education for instructors and language and cultural mediators
  • Development and implementation of innovative educational models
  • Participation in international educational programs
  • Organization of conferences, seminars, and workshops

Our work is coordinated by nine regional offices in Aarau, Basel, Bern, Lamone, Lausanne, Lucerne, Solothurn, Winterthur, and Zurich, and is supported by more than 33 training centers.

The executive board and central services are based in Zurich.

Our funding comes from:

  • Participant contributions
  • Service agreements with public institutions
  • Contributions from institutions in the migrants’ countries of origin
  • Contributions from social partners

Since July 2016, ECAP’s more than 1,000 employees have been covered by their own collective labor agreement (CLA), which is considered exemplary in the field of adult education. Among other things, employees receive generous support for their professional development.

ECAP was founded in 1970 by the Italian trade union CGIL as an institute for adult education and vocational training. In 1984, the institute was converted into a foundation and entered into a partnership with the Swiss Trade Union Federation (SGB). Since September 2006, we have collaborated with the Unia trade union.