Carmen Baumeler, Prof. Dr.

Carmen Baumeler

Prof. Dr. Carmen Baumeler is Head of the Research & Development Division at the Swiss Federal University for Vocational Education and Training SFUVET. She studied sociology, economics and German linguistics and earned her PhD from the University of Zurich in 2005. She was a research assistant at the ETH Zurich, a research assistant at the University of Zurich, a project manager at the Zug University of Teacher Education and a senior assistant at the University of Lucerne. She has worked as a professor at SFIVET since 2011.

Her research topics include the following: governance of vocational education and training (national and international perspective), professional education, review and revision of VET programmes, the role of VET professionals in Switzerland.

Work experience
  • Since 2009: National Head of SFUVET R&D Division
  • 2007-2009: Project manager (50%) in charge of research methodology for the 'key Indicators ch-x' portion of the ch-x Federal Youth Surveys project conducted by the Institute for Education Management and Economics (IBB), Zug University of Teacher Education, Central Switzerland
  • 2004-2009: Senior assistant (50%), Department of Sociology of the University of Lucerne, subject area: methodology training/empirical research in the social sciences, design of the methodology curriculum and development of methodology training, responsible for Master's module 'Research - Practice - Methods'
  • 2004-2007: Research assistant (50%), Institute of Sociology of the University of Zurich
  • 2001-2004: Research assistant, Institute of Technological History, ETH Zurich
  • 2000-2001: Deputy Head of ‘Personal Reporting’ Division, Credit Suisse Zurich
Education
  • 2005: PhD in sociology, University of Zurich
  • 2000: Master’s degree in sociology, University of Zurich
  • 1993-2000: Undergraduate studies in sociology, economics and German linguistics at the University of Zurich
Teaching experience
  • 2019: Teacher of MSc in VET programme, SFUVET, Institutional Perspectives on Apprenticeship Market
  • 2009: Teacher of MAS programme in School Management, PHZ Zug, Topic: ’Qualitative Social Research’
  • 2008: Master’s seminar on ‘Research-Practice-Methods’ (Department of Sociology, University of Lucerne)
  • 2004-2008: Lecture on 'Introduction to the Methods of Empirical Communication and Social Research I and II’. (Department of Sociology of the University of Lucerne)
  • 2003-2008: Methodology seminars 'On the Practice of Communication and Social Research I and II' (German) (Department of Sociology of the University of Lucerne)
  • 2007: ‘Exercises for research studies in the sociology of science and technology as well as in qualitative social research'.  (Institute of Sociology of the University of Zurich)
  • 2004-2007: ‘Practical workshop to support research'. (Institute of Sociology of the University of Zurich)
  • 2006: Seminar ‘Culture, politics and development from an economic sociology perspective’ (Institute of Sociology of the University of Zurich), Supervisor: Volker Bornschier
  • 2006: ‘Exercises for research studies in the sociology of science and technology as well as in qualitative social research’ (Institute of Sociology of the University of Zurich)
  • 2005/2006: Seminar on the ‘Global society’ (Institute of Sociology of the University of Zurich), Supervisor: Volker Bornschier
  • 2005: ‘Proseminar on sociological research’ (Institute of Sociology of the University of Zurich)
  • 2004: Lecture on 'Introduction to Sociology of Science’ (Institute of Sociology of the University of Zurich)
Area of expertise
  • Educational and organisational sociology
Projects
Publications
Transfer into practice
Presentations
Awards
  •  Baumeler, C., Engelage, S. & Stebel, A. (2019). Best Paper Award 3rd place for the research paper ‘Reforming Small Occupations: Continuity and Change.’ 6th congress on Research in Vocational Education and Training of the Swiss Federal Institute for Vocational Education and Training SFIVET (news: SFUVET), Zollikofen, Switzerland.
    Project: GOVPET: Governance in Vocational and Professional Education and Training
  • 2008 ‘Outstanding Teaching’ award, University of Lucerne
Mandates/Memberships
  • Member of the Monitoring Group of the ILO project "Digitisation Framework for National Skill Systems" (2021)
  • Member of R&D Committee of the Chamber of Universities of Teacher Education at Swissuniversities
  • Member of Working Group for Qualitative Social Research of the Swiss Sociology Association
  • Board member of Swiss Association for Applied Research in Vocational Education and Training (SGAB)
  • Board member of the Swiss Society for Education Research (SGBF) (2010-2019)