APFI – Future Women Engineers Preparatory Program

Fathen Urso

Project Overview
The Année Préparatoire Future Ingénieure (APFI) is an innovative preparatory program designed to increase the participation of women in engineering education and technical professions in Switzerland.
Created as an alternative pathway to the mandatory practical year required for holders of a federal academic baccalaureate, APFI enables young women to explore engineering disciplines, strengthen their technical skills, and prepare for Bachelor and Master studies within the Universities of Applied Sciences of the HES-SO network.
The program was developed as a concrete initiative to promote equal opportunities and address the persistent underrepresentation of women in engineering an
Objectives
Strengthen engineering competencies in infrastructure-related disciplines.
Promote lifelong learning among engineering professionals.
Create a platform for knowledge transfer between academia, industry and public authorities.
Support the development of future engineering leaders.
Leadership Responsibilities
Strategic development and long-term vision of the programme.
Academic and operational management.
Development of partnerships with engineering firms, public authorities and professional associations.
Recruitment and coordination of lecturers and experts.
Budget management and programme sustainability.
Quality assurance and continuous improvement.
Key Achievements
Directed the programme successfully for more than two decades.

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