Welcome to scienceindustries: New Head of Education

As a professional organisation (OdA), scienceindustries is responsible for the further development of basic vocational training, higher vocational training and their interfaces with higher education in the chemical, pharmaceutical and life sciences industries. With the newly created position of Head of Education, we are strengthening this area in a targeted manner in terms of strategy, operations and communication.

Rita Hidalgo joined our team in this role at the beginning of 2026. With her many years of experience in education and associations, her leadership skills and her broad professional background, she is ideally qualified to further develop scienceindustries' educational topics across all levels and areas.

Three questions for Rita Hidalgo

1. What is appealing about your new role at scienceindustries?

Vocational training is a key success factor for Switzerland as a centre of industry and innovation – especially in knowledge- and research-intensive sectors such as chemistry, pharmaceuticals and life sciences. I find it particularly exciting that professionals from different backgrounds work together in this sector and that scienceindustries takes an integrated approach to education: from basic vocational training to higher vocational training and higher education. And the chemist in me is looking forward to visiting a few laboratories and production sites to assess the need for education and skilled workers.

2. Career and industry marketing is a central pillar of the education strategy. What are the planned priorities?

Strong joint career and industry marketing is crucial for reaching young people at an early stage and showing them the diverse educational and career paths available to them – both the prospects in higher vocational education and training and higher education, as well as the diverse fields of activity in the industry. A key element here is the Talents in Science brand. Its aim is not only to raise the profile of professions, but also to highlight educational pathways: from entry into basic vocational training and further training to technical colleges and university courses.

Another important aspect for me is

• providing information tailored to the target group for young people and their parents, teachers, career counsellors, companies and students
• close coordination with our members, regional organisations, career information centres and educational institutions,
• and securing long-term funding for joint measures in career and industry marketing.

3. How is career, industry and education marketing implemented in practice at scienceindustries?

Marketing takes place on three levels, with increasing integration of higher vocational education and higher education:

1. Central communication via scienceindustries and the joint platform Talents in Science – Overview of occupations in basic vocational training – Gradual expansion to include content on higher vocational education and training and university pathways.
2. Annual image campaigns, accompanied by Talents in Science's social media channels, to highlight the attractiveness of the industries and the permeability of educational pathways.
3. Direct contact with target groups, such as at Swiss Skills, with a focus on career guidance, but also in other areas. These three levels are interlinked and enable consistent positioning of vocational and higher education, and thus of the industry itself.

The interview was led by Nadine Lumme, Project Manager for Communication and Public Affairs.