Certification for practical trainers: a quality standard for banking education

Dominique, what is the SBA’s certification for practical trainers, and why was it introduced? 

Dominique Steiner: Our certification offers banks an opportunity to have their educational concepts for trainees independently reviewed and verified. It is also a form of external recognition for the work done by bank staff who are responsible for trainees. The aim of introducing it was to achieve further improvements in the quality of training in the industry and make bank staff more employable. The certification also shows trainers that their additional role is valued.

How do you think it benefits the industry? 

DS: The certification enhances the quality of basic training and ensures uniform standards in our industry. Properly trained practical trainers coach junior staff in a targeted way, ensuring that banks can call on a steady supply of specialists. The certification also increases banks’ appeal as employers for trainees and staff generally.

Florian, you work on the practical side. How do you think banks and their staff benefit from certification for practical trainers? 

Florian Rüegg: The certification sets a high standard of quality in training that is even acknowledged outside our industry. This improves our reputation as a bank. Our practical trainers benefit in terms of valuable feedback from their trainees and managers during the certification process, which has a positive impact on the quality of our training and thus first and foremost on our trainees. It’s beneficial for everyone. We have noticed that positive experiences with practical trainers make a lot of people want to take on this additional function themselves once they are qualified.

Why did ZKB decide to get certified? 

FR: With around 400 trainees, training for the next generation of staff is hugely important for ZKB. Being certified means that our educational concept is regularly reviewed in terms of content, organisation, methods and implementation and meets the current requirements. We see this as a mark of quality for our training. Our approximately 300 practical trainers also make a substantial contribution to the learning success of our juniors day in, day out. We want the certification to reflect the good work they do.

What criteria do banks have to meet to be certified, and how do they go about applying? 

DS: The bank must present its educational concept to a committee made up of specialists from other banks and the SBA, which then approves it or requests improvements. Once the bank is certified, it can have its practical trainers certified twice a year. 

How has ZKB’s experience of the certification process been so far? 

FR: The initial workload for institutions becoming newly certified is manageable because the committee provides plenty of reference documents to help them. As a certified institution, we are subject to a review every five years. This involves interviewing a practical trainer and a trainee to find out how the educational concept works in practice.

Let us conclude with a look ahead: what are the SBA’s aims with regard to its certification for practical trainers? 

DS: We want the certification to become even better established in the industry and thus continue to ensure that a high standard of training is maintained and made visible. High standards of care and training for apprentices underscore banks’ efforts to remain among the most attractive employers for young talents going forward.

Thanks for an enlightening chat, Dominique and Florian!