In the rapidly evolving landscape of international education, the most impactful learning often happens beyond the classroom. Recently, Grade 10 students from the International School of Zug and Luzern (ISZL) stepped out of the traditional lab environment and into the “On Labs” the global headquarters of Swiss performance brand, On.
This collaboration is a case study in how top-tier international schools are looking to the future by exposing students to real-world partnerships. This project formed part of their High School Global Innovations Programme, where students work alongside organisations on real life challenges.
The focus is around responsible solutions, ethical decision making, and sustainability, all grounded in the human-centred innovation methods developed by both Stanford d.school and ETH Zurich’s Design Thinking course.
The Challenge of Solving for a Circular Future
The core of the initiative challenged students to apply their understanding of sustainability and material science to the complex problems facing the global footwear industry. Tasked with developing innovation ideas for On Labs, students focused on circularity, biodegradable materials, and the carbon footprint of global supply chains.
By engaging with professional designers and engineers, students moved beyond the “hypothetical” problems found in textbooks. They were required to defend their prototypes against the same criteria used by one of the world’s fastest-growing sports brands: feasibility, scalability, and environmental impact.
Bridging the Gap Between the International Baccalaureate and Industry
As an IB World School, ISZL’s curriculum emphasises “Approaches to Learning” (ATL) skills which are critical thinking, collaboration, and communication. The On Labs project served as a “pressure test” for these competencies.
“Seeing students pitch their ideas to industry experts at this level is incredibly powerful,” says Bob Sugdon High School Programme and AP Coordinator. “It shifts the mindset from ‘How do I get an A?’ to ‘How do I solve this problem?‘” For the students, the experience provided a rare glimpse into the “Swiss Silicon Valley” culture that On has cultivated in Zurich. It demonstrated that the sustainable innovation they study in their IB Middle Years Programme (MYP) is exactly what the global workforce is demanding.
Why these connections matter to families
For families navigating a global relocation, the choice of school is often about finding a community that provides a genuine head start. This partnership with On Labs, built through the ISZL alumni network, is a clear example of how the school connects students with the professional world. It ensures they are both academically strong and truly ready for the workplace.
As ISZL continues to expand its Global Innovations Programme, the message is clear: the future of education is about preparing for the real world. By the time they head to university, these students have already had their ideas critiqued by global experts and gained a clear-eyed view of what the working world really expects from them.
The International School of Zug and Luzern is a leading non-profit IB World School serving a diverse community of over 60 nationalities in Central Switzerland.
