Milliyet newspaper headline

Swiss Learning organized its first international event, which took place from 25-29 April 2006 in Ankara and Istanbul, Turkey

By Christophe X. Clivaz

Its success was evident on Sunday, 30 April, when Swiss Learning had the opportunity to present Swiss schools and universities on CNN Turk in a 1-hour TV broadcast. The show focused on the quality of Swiss education considered from various viewpoints including a safe and secure society, an international environment and faculties, and a beautiful natural setting. All these elements combine to make for a kind of “Swiss touch” that attracts many parents, the proof of which was the large turnout at the Swiss Education workshop where Leysin American School, Le Rosey, Beau-Soleil, Brillantmont, Collège du Léman, Glion and Les Roches were represented.

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Press coverage, however, had already confirmed the interest of the Turkish market in Switzerland. More than ten articles were written during the week of the event. Milliyet newspaper headlines heralded the “World famous Swiss schools” and “Switzerland, a model to the world”. Nuran Cakmakçi from Hürriyet mentioned that : “In each school there is a family for every student. Schoolmates take the role of brothers or sisters and the teachers become mothers or fathers.” The alumni of Swiss universities and Swiss boarding schools also took an active part in the event’s celebration. More than 200 people attended the cocktail parties given by His Excellency Walter Gyger, Ambassador of Switzerland to Turkey, and Consul General André Brohy. They were given the opportunity to share their long-lasting affection for their former school or university, and to show that the friendships they built during their studies have remained strong over the years. One of the “oldest alumni” members, Professor Ardan, attended ETH Zürich in the early 1940s. “We have a club of former students and we organize a reunion once a month that gives us the opportunity to forget the stress and to recall good memories,” Mr Engin said pointedly. A number of school directors were present and students refreshed their memories of a few “epic situations” they had experienced at school. “Once, I left the boarding house during the night to meet my girlfriend,” remembered Mr Bugra. “She picked me up with her car, but when we stopped at the traffic lights the car next to us was being driven by our school director ! But tonight,” he added, “I am going to drive my director for dinner.”

This memorable week-long event would not have been possible without the support of Swiss Learning’s sponsors, including Audemars Piguet and Swiss International Airlines, who supported the project from the start. “Swiss schools and Swiss banks are synonymous with excellence, they are in a leading position in their field, and we are proud to support the first international event of Swiss Learning, a support which we are planning to renew next year,” said Pascal Rau, Senior representative of UBS Turkey. This successful event was the first in a range of similar international events being planned to promote the excellence of Swiss education worldwide.