Qualifications in a cross-border context: shortages, recognition and co-construction. A Luxembourg–Switzerland perspective
Thursday, July 9, 2026 | University of Luxembourg, Belval Campus
Today's labour markets are marked by multiple tensions. Many sectors are facing labour shortages, a situation likely to intensify due to demographic imbalances. In this context, qualifications play a central role, particularly in cross-border regions confronted with a range of structural and institutional challenges.
This raises questions about the mechanisms through which qualifications are defined, recognised, and mobilised in tight labour markets where different national, legal, and educational frameworks intersect. It also underscores the need to reconsider training systems in cross-border territories such as Switzerland and Luxembourg, and to assess their capacity to respond to specific requirements related to language, technology, and sector-specific demands.
These issues will be addressed at the 12th UniGR-CBS Greater Region Forum. The forum will open with an overview of the recognition of qualifications at the European level. This will be followed by a panel of experts from Switzerland, Luxembourg, and the Greater Region, who will present a comparative analysis of qualification systems, their practical use, and the challenges encountered. The panel will also identify key obstacles, current challenges, and potential levers for action. Finally, a roundtable discussion on possible responses to labour shortages in cross-border contexts will bring together scientific, institutional, and professional expertise.
The event is organised in collaboration with the research group LABOR SwissLux – Labor across Borders, which brings together researchers from Luxembourg and Switzerland analysing the dynamics of the approximately 640,000 cross-border workers employed in these two countries. By highlighting similarities and differences between these areas, the group seeks to develop a nuanced comparative understanding of cross-border work and its contemporary challenges.
Further information about the programme and registration will be available soon.
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