Schweizerisches Zentrum für die Mittelschule/Centre suisse de l'enseignement secondaire II (ZEM CES)
ZEM CES is a Swiss federally mandated non-profit that supports Sekundarstufe II (Gymnasien, Fachmittelschulen, Berufsfachschulen) through governance support, WEGM reform implementation, continuing education coordination, network groups, and external school evaluations, serving all 26 Swiss cantons across three language regions.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2008
- HeadquartersBern, Switzerland
- Headcount—
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Schweizerisches Zentrum für die Mittelschule/Centre suisse de l'enseignement secondaire II (ZEM CES) does
ZEM CES (Schweizerisches Zentrum für die Mittelschule / Centre suisse de l'enseignement secondaire II) is a Swiss non-profit support organization headquartered in Bern, with a secondary office in Zurich, that operates under a formal Leistungsvereinbarung with the Swiss Conference of Cantonal Education Directors (EDK) and a Subventionsvertrag with the Swiss Confederation. Founded in 1969 and employing 28 staff, it serves as the federally and cantonally mandated center for Swiss upper secondary education (Sekundarstufe II), covering Gymnasien, Fachmittelschulen (FMS), and Berufsfachschulen. Its core offerings fall into three service lines: Governance Support (Unterstützung Governance) including WEGM reform implementation, NOK demand-oriented coordination of teacher continuing education, the annual Weiterbildungsbarometer, and Bildungsmonitoring; Knowledge & Network (Wissen & Netzwerk) comprising six active cross-cantonal network groups, a Themen-Observatorium, and the Beiträge zur Mittelschule publication series; and Evaluationen & Befragungen delivering external school evaluations via the former IFES IPES team and triennial standardized surveys (SAB and SEB) exposed through an interactive dashboard on dashboard.isurv.ch.
The organization's technology stack is deliberately modest and governance-led: web-based interactive dashboards for standardized survey results, Matomo for site analytics, Microsoft 365 for workplace operations hosted in Swiss and EU data centers, and Datahouse AG and continis.ch as third-party hosting providers. AI is used only internally under strict data-protection controls, with no public-facing AI products. ZEM CES's business model is non-commercial: all activities are funded through public mandates under the EDK performance agreement and the federal subsidy contract, with no pricing, no commercial revenue, and no shareholders. Customers are structural rather than commercial: the 26 cantonal education authorities, the Swiss Confederation, secondary schools that participate in evaluations and surveys, and the practitioners engaged through network groups across all three Swiss language regions. Its position is structurally protected by the EDK mandate, the nationwide trilingual footprint, and the institutional stickiness of its network groups.
Schweizerisches Zentrum für die Mittelschule/Centre suisse de l'enseignement secondaire II (ZEM CES) firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Schweizerisches Zentrum für die Mittelschule/Centre suisse de l'enseignement secondaire II (ZEM CES)
- Legal name
- ZEM CES (Schweizerisches Zentrum für die Mittelschule/Centre suisse de l'enseignement secondaire II)
- Website
- https://zemces.ch
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2008
- Operating status
- Operating
- Short description
- ZEM CES is a Swiss federally mandated non-profit that supports Sekundarstufe II (Gymnasien, Fachmittelschulen, Berufsfachschulen) through governance support, WEGM reform implementation, continuing education coordination, network groups, and external school evaluations, serving all 26 Swiss cantons across three language regions.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Schweizerisches Zentrum für die Mittelschule/Centre suisse de l'enseignement secondaire II (ZEM CES) industry classification
Industry- NAICS
- Educational Support Services (61171)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- National/State Curriculum & Standards Authorities (EDADAEAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Curriculum, Standards & Assessment Policy Research (EDADADAH), Subject-Specific Standards & Curriculum Councils (EDADAEAB), Learning Outcomes & Competency Framework Authorities (EDADAEAC)
Keywords
Where Schweizerisches Zentrum für die Mittelschule/Centre suisse de l'enseignement secondaire II (ZEM CES) is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Bern
- HQ country
- Switzerland
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices2 records
Markets served
Schweizerisches Zentrum für die Mittelschule/Centre suisse de l'enseignement secondaire II (ZEM CES) business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
Revenue model
- Public Funding (EDK Leistungsvereinbarung): ZEM CES operates under a performance agreement (Leistungsvereinbarung) with the Swiss Conference of Cantonal Education Directors (EDK) and a subsidy contract with the Swiss Confederation (Bund). All activities are funded through these public mandates rather than commercial revenue.
- Mandated Services to Cantons and Schools: External school evaluations and standardized surveys are conducted on behalf of cantons and schools. Services include external evaluation of Berufsfachschulen, Gymnasien, and Fachmittelschulen, funded through cantonal commissioning.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels7 records
Schweizerisches Zentrum für die Mittelschule/Centre suisse de l'enseignement secondaire II (ZEM CES) product offering
Product offeringCore offering
ZEM CES provides governance support, external school evaluations, and standardized nationwide surveys for Swiss upper secondary education (Sekundarstufe II). It coordinates teacher professional development through demand-oriented systems (NOK, Weiterbildungsbarometer, Facilitatrices/Facilitateurs network) and operates six thematic network groups (Club_E, Nachteilsausgleich, Fachmittelschulen, LapTabNet, Austausch und Mobilität, Maturitätsarbeit) serving Gymnasien, Fachmittelschulen, and Berufsfachschulen across all Swiss cantons and language regions.
Product overview
ZEM CES (Swiss Center for Upper Secondary Schools and School Evaluation at Secondary Level II) is a Swiss educational support organization that operates as a service platform offering multiple interconnected programs rather than a single software product. The core offerings include: Governance Support services (Unterstützung Governance) encompassing the Weiterentwicklung der Gymnasialen Maturität (WEGM) reform support, Dialog Weiterbildung continuing education coordination, and Bildungsmonitoring educational monitoring; Knowledge & Network services (Wissen & Netzwerk) including various Netzwerkgruppen such as Club_E, Nachteilsausgleich, Fachmittelschulen, LapTabNet, Austausch und Mobilität, and Maturitätsarbeit; and Evaluation & Survey services (Evaluationen & Befragungen) providing external school evaluations and standardized surveys (Ehemaligenbefragung and Abschlussklassenbefragung) with an interactive dashboard. Key monitoring instruments include the annual Weiterbildungsbarometer and NOK reports. The organization also publishes the ZEM CES Beiträge zur Mittelschule series and maintains the Facilitatrices & Facilitateurs network for nationwide coordination.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Quantifiable outcome
- 73 Fachmittelschulen across Switzerland supported by ZEM CES network groups
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Schweizerisches Zentrum für die Mittelschule/Centre suisse de l'enseignement secondaire II (ZEM CES)
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments4 records
Schweizerisches Zentrum für die Mittelschule/Centre suisse de l'enseignement secondaire II (ZEM CES) technology and API
TechnologyAPI detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
Schweizerisches Zentrum für die Mittelschule/Centre suisse de l'enseignement secondaire II (ZEM CES) partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.
- EDK (Erziehungsdirektorenkonferenz / Conférence des-directeurs cantonaux de l'instruction publique)coreZEM CES operates under a formal Leistungsvereinbarung (performance agreement) with the Swiss Conference of Cantonal Education Directors (EDK). EDK provides the primary institutional mandate and funding framework. ZEM CES supports EDK in questions related to the promotion and development of Gymnasium and Fachmittelschulen and reports to the EDK Generalsekretariat.
- Schweizerische Mittelschulämterkonferenz (SMAK)coreSMAK is the conference of heads of cantonal upper secondary school authorities. ZEM CES receives mandates from SMAK, reports on Bildungsmonitoring to SMAK and the EDK Generalsekretariat, and collaborates on WEGM reform implementation. SMAK commissioned ZEM CES to conduct the Nachteilsausgleich report.
- Schweizer Zentrum für Heil- und Sonderpädagogik (SZH)coreSZH is an EDK partner agency. ZEM CES and SZH jointly lead the Nachteilsausgleich network group, co-coordinating questions and case examples for students with disabilities at the Sekundarstufe II level. Both organizations share expertise on inclusive education measures.
- MovetiamajorMovetia is the Swiss agency for exchange and mobility. ZEM CES collaborates with Movetia to promote a mobility culture at Swiss secondary schools, advises schools on the Sprachassistenzprogramm and project submissions, and co-produced the 'Gruppenaustausch an Mittelschulen' publication.
- Arbeitsgruppe Umsetzung MAR/MAV und RLPcoreThis working group brings together representatives from SMAK, KSGR (Swiss Conference of Gymnasium Rectors), VSG (Association of Swiss Gymnasium Teachers), ZEM CES, and the EDK Generalsekretariat's Sekundarstufe II division. ZEM CES implements the group's proposals into concrete activities for WEGM reform support.
- Konferenz der Rectoren und Rectorinnen schweizerischer Fachmittelschulen (KFMS)majorZEM CES maintains close collaboration with KFMS, participating in KFMS working days and annual meetings to directly track current developments affecting Fachmittelschulen. ZEM CES ensures FMS perspectives are included across all its topic areas.
- Interkantonale Hochschule für Heilpädagogik (Hfh.ch)minorZEM CES links to HfH research on Sekundarstufe II pathways with Nachteilsausgleich and disability accommodations, referencing their research on career trajectories of students with disabilities at the upper secondary level.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Schweizerisches Zentrum für die Mittelschule/Centre suisse de l'enseignement secondaire II (ZEM CES) competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Schweizer Zentrum für Heil- und Sonderschulung (SZH/CSPS): EDK partner agency focused on special/inclusive education in Switzerland; operates under the same EDK Leistungsvereinbarung framework as ZEM CES and co-leads the Nachteilsausgleich network group. Directly comparable mandate, governance model, and public funding structure.
- SDBB | CSFO (Schweizerisches Dienstleistungszentrum Berufsbildung): National service center for vocational education and career guidance in Switzerland; comparable mandate of providing nationwide coordination, information, and quality support services for a defined education sector, funded through public mandate.
- EHB/IFFP/IUPS (Eidg. Hochschulinstitut für Berufsbildung): Swiss Federal Institute for Vocational Education and Training; comparable structure as a federally mandated body supporting quality, research, and coordination in a defined education segment (vocational education vs. ZEM CES' upper secondary academic track).
- SKBF | CSRE (Schweizerische Koordinationsstelle für Bildungsforschung): Swiss Coordination Center for Research in Education; operates as a national platform coordinating educational research and providing Bildungsmonitoring-style reporting across Swiss cantons, directly comparable to ZEM CES' monitoring and evidence-synthesis functions.
Broad incumbents
- EDK (Schweizerische Konferenz der kantonalen Erziehungsdirektoren): Governing body of cantonal education ministers and ZEM CES' principal mandating authority; operates the broader inter-canton policy framework within which ZEM CES executes its mandate. Not a competitor but the institutional umbrella that defines ZEM CES' scope.
- SBFI / SERI (Staatssekretariat für Bildung, Forschung und Innovation): Swiss federal State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation; the federal counterpart authority that co-funds ZEM CES via the Subventionsvertrag and operates adjacent oversight functions across higher education, vocational education, and research.
- BIBB (Bundesinstitut für Berufsbildung, Germany): German federal institute for vocational education and training; international peer operating a comparable mandate of research, policy advice, and quality support for upper secondary / vocational education at a national level.
Others
- Movetia: Swiss national agency for exchange and mobility in education; strategic partner of ZEM CES on the Austausch & Mobilität network group and co-producer of Mittelschule mobility publications. Comparable federal-mandate structure but different thematic focus.
- Eurydice (European Education Information Network): European network providing comparative structural information on education systems; thematically adjacent to ZEM CES' Bildungsmonitoring function but operating at supranational scope rather than single-country execution.
- OECD Directorate for Education and Skills: International policy and benchmarking body whose PISA, TALIS, and Education at a Glance outputs overlap directly with ZEM CES' Bildungsmonitoring and Weiterbildungsbarometer mandates; operates at a much broader scale but provides the comparative reference framework ZEM CES uses.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Schweizerisches Zentrum für die Mittelschule/Centre suisse de l'enseignement secondaire II (ZEM CES) social profiles
Digital presenceSchweizerisches Zentrum für die Mittelschule/Centre suisse de l'enseignement secondaire II (ZEM CES) financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Schweizerisches Zentrum für die Mittelschule/Centre suisse de l'enseignement secondaire II (ZEM CES) leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Schweizerisches Zentrum für die Mittelschule/Centre suisse de l'enseignement secondaire II (ZEM CES) funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Schweizerisches Zentrum für die Mittelschule/Centre suisse de l'enseignement secondaire II (ZEM CES) M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Schweizerisches Zentrum für die Mittelschule/Centre suisse de l'enseignement secondaire II (ZEM CES)
What does Schweizerisches Zentrum für die Mittelschule/Centre suisse de l'enseignement secondaire II (ZEM CES) do?
ZEM CES provides governance support, external school evaluations, and standardized nationwide surveys for Swiss upper secondary education (Sekundarstufe II). It coordinates teacher professional development through demand-oriented systems (NOK, Weiterbildungsbarometer, Facilitatrices/Facilitateurs network) and operates six thematic network groups (Club_E, Nachteilsausgleich, Fachmittelschulen, LapTabNet, Austausch und Mobilität, Maturitätsarbeit) serving Gymnasien, Fachmittelschulen, and Berufsfachschulen across all Swiss cantons and language regions.
Is Schweizerisches Zentrum für die Mittelschule/Centre suisse de l'enseignement secondaire II (ZEM CES) a public or private company?
Schweizerisches Zentrum für die Mittelschule/Centre suisse de l'enseignement secondaire II (ZEM CES) is a private company. It is currently operating.
When was Schweizerisches Zentrum für die Mittelschule/Centre suisse de l'enseignement secondaire II (ZEM CES) founded?
Schweizerisches Zentrum für die Mittelschule/Centre suisse de l'enseignement secondaire II (ZEM CES) was founded in 2008.
Where is Schweizerisches Zentrum für die Mittelschule/Centre suisse de l'enseignement secondaire II (ZEM CES) based?
Schweizerisches Zentrum für die Mittelschule/Centre suisse de l'enseignement secondaire II (ZEM CES) is headquartered in Bern, Switzerland, in the Europe region.
How does Schweizerisches Zentrum für die Mittelschule/Centre suisse de l'enseignement secondaire II (ZEM CES) make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Public Funding (EDK Leistungsvereinbarung) is the primary driver. The others are mandated Services to Cantons and Schools.
Who are Schweizerisches Zentrum für die Mittelschule/Centre suisse de l'enseignement secondaire II (ZEM CES)'s main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Schweizer Zentrum für Heil- und Sonderschulung (SZH/CSPS), SDBB | CSFO (Schweizerisches Dienstleistungszentrum Berufsbildung), EHB/IFFP/IUPS (Eidg. Hochschulinstitut für Berufsbildung) and SKBF | CSRE (Schweizerische Koordinationsstelle für Bildungsforschung). Broad incumbents are EDK (Schweizerische Konferenz der kantonalen Erziehungsdirektoren), SBFI / SERI (Staatssekretariat für Bildung, Forschung und Innovation) and BIBB (Bundesinstitut für Berufsbildung, Germany). Others are Movetia, Eurydice (European Education Information Network) and OECD Directorate for Education and Skills.
Does Schweizerisches Zentrum für die Mittelschule/Centre suisse de l'enseignement secondaire II (ZEM CES) have an API?
No public API is recorded for Schweizerisches Zentrum für die Mittelschule/Centre suisse de l'enseignement secondaire II (ZEM CES).
What industry is Schweizerisches Zentrum für die Mittelschule/Centre suisse de l'enseignement secondaire II (ZEM CES) in?
Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDADAEAA, National/State Curriculum & Standards Authorities, with a secondary code of EDADADAH, Curriculum, Standards & Assessment Policy Research. Its NAICS code is 61171 and its SIC code is 8200.