ISFB Think Tank: Compiling Feedback from the Field to Support Skills Development

May 11, 2026

On the afternoon of Friday, May 8, the ISFB brought together its Think Tank of program directors and the Institute’s management for a meeting focused on the evolution of its training offerings and its ability to adapt to changes in the banking and financial sector.

This meeting is part of the ISFB’s adult education governance framework. Held at regular intervals, it brings together the heads of the various programs to share observations from the field, analyze changes in the professions, identify emerging skill needs, and strengthen the educational coherence of the program offerings.

The Program Directors’ Think Tank is one of the key components of this ecosystem. Discussions draw on the experience of program directors, as well as feedback from the approximately 150 lecturers and experts who contribute under the auspices of the ISFB. This close connection with practitioners allows us to stay closely attuned to the realities observed in institutions, evolving practices, and emerging needs within the professions.

This qualitative analysis is complemented by the work ofthe ISFB Observatory on Banking and Financial Skills, a unit within the ISFB created to anticipate changes in the workforce, support the development of skills, and inform strategic decisions in the banking sector of French-speaking Switzerland. Its objective is to provide a specific perspective on changes in the workplace: that of skills and their role in the evolution of banking and financial professions. Through its studies, indicators, academic partnerships, and dissemination channels, the Observatory helps to progressively document these developments and make them accessible to stakeholders in the banking and finance sector in French-speaking Switzerland.

The ISFB also combines these two dimensions with other sources of information, such as needs assessments conducted among ISFB member institutions, as well as surveys on the impact on employability conducted among ISFB-certified individuals.

The goal is not to base changes to the offering on a single interpretation, but rather on a set of complementary data, observations, and feedback.

This cross-referencing of information enables the ISFB to develop its programs in a rigorous and pragmatic manner, ensuring they remain closely aligned with professional realities. It helps ensure that training programs remain aligned with the needs of the sector, the career paths of professionals, and the expectations of employers.

Beyond the evolution of its training offerings, this learning ecosystem also generates collective value. The consolidated information feeds into ISFB publications, notably in ISFB Insight through interviews, expert commentary, and field reports, as well as in the ISFB Library, with content more focused on applied research and science communication. It can also contribute to industry benchmarks and the ISFB reference framework for key banking and financial functions.

Through this process of listening, observing, and making continuous adjustments, the ISFB continues to fulfill its mission: to understand the various professions, develop skills, support career paths, and help shed light on the transformations taking place in the banking and financial sector in French-speaking Switzerland.

© Institut Supérieur de Formation Bancaire (ISFB). All rights reserved.
The analyses and content published by the ISFB may be quoted or reproduced in part, provided that the source is clearly mentioned. Any full or substantial reproduction of this article in another medium or format is subject to the prior written authorization of the ISFB. In order to facilitate reading and without any intention of discrimination, the masculine gender is generally used, in accordance with the grammatical rule that allows it to be used as a neutral value to refer to a group of people comprising both men and women. This publication is intended for ISFB members and their employees in Switzerland, as well as anyone interested in finance in Switzerland. It is not intended to be read or distributed in any jurisdiction where its distribution would be prohibited.

ISFB Think Tank

a system for gathering qualitative data and assessing trends in the banking and financial sectors.

 

Through this process of listening, observing, and making continuous adjustments, the ISFB continues to fulfill its mission: to understand the various professions, develop skills, support career paths, and help shed light on the transformations taking place in the banking and financial sector in French-speaking Switzerland.