We were deeply saddened to learn of the passing of André Schläfli, founding director of SVEB, our Swiss partner organisation that also supports the Profadul project, and one of the most influential figures in Swiss adult education.

Thanks to André’s extraordinary diplomatic skills, adult education institutions, organisations, networks, and professional associations in Switzerland united into a single federative organisation, enabling them to represent the sector’s interests effectively and with a unified voice. He worked tirelessly to renew and develop the adult education profession and to ensure that quality innovation in the field was built on a stable, long-term foundation.

Our personal collaboration began in the early 2010s. André was extremely open to our initiatives and quickly came to regard us as professional partners with whom he shared common values. The first years of our collaboration focused on basic skills development in the workplace, for which SVEB was the methodological developer.

Later, we became familiar with Swiss quality assurance and professionalisation systems, including the Train-the-Trainer model and the modular certification system, in the creation of which André played an indispensable role. These are considered unique reference initiatives throughout Europe.

André was guided by practical effectiveness in all his work. He was convinced that the professionalism of adult education could only gain real recognition if the developments were based on effective, sustainable solutions that created real value for both teachers and learners.

Not only the Swiss but also the international adult education community – including IACEHOF, ICAE, and EAEA – mourns his great personality and professional legacy.

André’s professional vision, humanity, and openness have left a lasting impression on us. We honor his memory with respect.

Profadul Team