Uschi Backes-Gellner

Prof. Uschi Backes-Gellner is a Full Professor of Business Economics at the University of Zurich's Department of Business Administration. She serves as Co-Director of the Swiss Leading House VPET-ECON and has held leadership roles including Deputy Dean of the Faculty for Business, Economics, and Informatics (2008–2024). Her research focuses on vocational education, innovation economics, and labor market dynamics, with particular emphasis on the economics of apprenticeship training and skill development.

Education: She holds a Dr.rer.pol (1987) and Habilitation (1995) from the University of Trier. She has held professorships at the University of Zurich since 2002 and previously at the University of Cologne (1995–2002).

Research Interests: Backes-Gellner's work examines the interplay between education systems, labor markets, and economic outcomes. Key themes include vocational training's impact on innovation, gender occupational segregation, and the role of lifelong learning in mitigating skill obsolescence. She has conducted extensive studies on dual education systems, firm-level training strategies, and the economic implications of aging workforces.

Articles Trends: Her recent publications analyze topics like curriculum updates in vocational education, middle-skilled workers' adaptation to immigration, and digital transformation's effects on occupational skill sets. They blend quantitative analysis with policy-oriented insights.

Awards: Recognitions include the Top Viewed and Cited Article Awards from Industrial Relations (2025), an Honorary Doctorate from the University of Tübingen (2021), and multiple rankings as a top business scholar in Switzerland.

Advising/Grants: She leads the Swiss Leading House VPET-ECON, funded by the State Secretariat for Education, Research, and Innovation. She has advised national committees on vocational education and innovation policy, including Switzerland's Federal Committee on Vocational Education (2004–2015) and Germany's Commission of Experts for Research and Innovation (2011–2019).