1056 new business professionals celebrate the completion of their reformed commercial apprenticeship
On July 6, 2026, 1,056 graduates of the KV Zurich Business School received their Federal Certificate of Competence. They are part of the first cohort to complete the KV apprenticeship under the reform’s guidelines. The pass rate was once again 95.5 percent.
On Monday, July 6, 2026, 1,056 successful commercial apprenticeship graduates received their Federal Certificate of Competence (EFZ) after completing a three-year apprenticeship at the KV Zurich Business School. These young business professionals are part of the first cohort of apprentices to have completed their training entirely in accordance with the guidelines of the reformed commercial apprenticeship program. Gresa Kryeziu achieved the highest score, with a grade point average of 5.7 on the Vocational Maturity Certificate (BM1).
High pass rate and strong individual performances
Of the 1,107 apprentices who took the qualification exams (QV) this year, 1,056 passed. For the first time, even those apprentices aiming for the vocational baccalaureate (BM1) were required to take the EFZ exam. In total, 191 apprentices achieved a grade point average of 5.3 or higher, thereby earning a place in the national rankings—21 of them in the BM1, 54 in the EFZ component of the BM1, and 116 in the EFZ. Seven BM1 students achieved a grade point average of 5.7 in the EFZ, and six others excelled with a 5.6. In the Vocational Maturity Examination for Adults (BM2), 221 students took the exam; 212 passed successfully, two of them with a grade point average of 5.6.
New procedures have proven effective
Christian Wölfle, principal of the KV Zurich Business School, expressed his delight at the once again high pass rate of 95.5 percent—identical to last year’s figure. This year’s qualification process was also the first to be conducted entirely in accordance with the guidelines of the KV reform. The exams took place over a three-week period. For the written exams, which were held online for the first time, 61 classrooms were used, with two proctors per room. Eight technical staff members and the school’s ICT team were on hand to provide technical support, and 60 people graded the written exams. For the oral exams, the school set up two check-in desks for the first time.
A Plea for Curiosity and Courage
The graduation ceremony took place in front of a packed house at Zurich’s Hallenstadion. About 5,000 guests—including family members, friends, teachers, and vocational and on-the-job trainers—attended the ceremony, while others watched via livestream. Guest speaker Prof. Dr. Beat Habegger, a member of the cantonal council and co-director of the Institute for Nonprofit and Public Management at the University of Applied Sciences Northwestern Switzerland, congratulated the graduates and emphasized that an education is a tool for bringing about change and shaping the future. He noted that curiosity—the desire to understand things—serves as an important compass in this journey. He encouraged the young business professionals to trust their judgment and creativity and to have the courage to stand up for their own views and act on them. Once again, the school band Business Notes set the festive mood with cover versions of popular songs.
Source: www.kvz-schule.ch
