Jackie Vorpe 2022

«From August 23 to December 24, 2022, I had the great fortune to enjoy 4 months of academic and cultural life at the grandiose Georgetown University (GU) in Washington, DC. Having to juggle work and family life, this solitary break in a city as mythical as the American capital has fully contributed to the completion of my thesis in educational policy. Once again, many thanks to the Europa Institute Zürich (EIZ) and the Center for German and European Studies (CGES) for this unique opportunity! In these few lines, I will come back to the highlights of my stay. For 4 months, I lived in the Dupont Circle neighborhood, a popular residential area with many cafes, bars, bookstores and other stores. I was located close to the Metro, museums, the embassy district and a 25-minute walk from the White House. Washington is a city without skyscrapers because, according to the legend, no building should exceed the Capitol dome at 88 meters (even if the Washington Monument is 169 meters high). As far as discoveries are concerned, I can mention the 22 emblematic monuments and the 25 sumptuous museums and art galleries I visited (most of them free). I was able to see the US Constitution and the Declaration of Independence at the National Archives Museum, as well as Lance Armonstrong's suit, the Apollo 11 capsule and the Space Shuttle Discovery at the National Air and Space Museum. I was also lucky enough to experience the mid-terms elections firsthand and to have run the 42km Marine Corps Marathon 😊. But the most memorable part was seeing and hearing Bill and Hillary Clinton in Healy Hall at Georgetown University during the ceremony in honor of Madeleine Albright, an iconic figure in American diplomacy and former Professor at GU. On the academic level, I am very happy to have been able to fulfill my first goal, which was to finish and send a first draft of my thesis to my professor in Zurich. For this, I took full advantage of the facilities available at GU. Every day, in the huge Lauinger Library, I had an ideal environment to read, write and find literature with my student card. Besides my writing work, I also participated in various events organized by the university, such as the two presentations in the framework of the “Master of Arts in Educational Transformation” on gentrification and Teachers of Color – rather unusual topics for the Swiss context. Every week, a large number of events (online or on site) on a variety of interesting themes were proposed on our email box. As far as the contacts I was able to make, I can mention in particular the Urban Institute, a think tank based in Washington which conducts research on economic and social policies, including Vocational Education and Training. I was fortunate enough to attend a conference there and to know personally a few people whose work focuses on American apprenticeship. When I wasn't at the University, I was able to research in some of the most breathtaking archives: the Library of Congress right across the street from the Capitol and the National Archives and Records Administration. With so much freedom, great free access facilities and such a vibrant city, I was able to have a rewarding and unforgettable experience. I came home not only with memories, but also with a memory drive full of resources for future research.»

 

• On November 14, I presented the situation of women in Vocational Education and Training in Switzerland at an event organized at the Swiss Embassy in the framework of the “National Apprenticeship Week” 
• On December 5-6, I presented my doctoral thesis at a Visiting Scholars Research Symposium organized jointly with the 5 other Visiting Researchers
• I wrote a short article (French & German) entitled “Apprenticeship in the United States. Recreating Tradition and Inventing Cohesion” in the Spring 2023 Skilled journal of the Swiss Federal University for Vocational Education and Training (SFUVET). Link