Who we are here for
Education that empowers people – in every environment
Our courses accompany everyone who supports children and young people with heart and competence – at home, in the classroom, in counselling and at university. Humanistic education strengthens relationship quality, emotional competence and the image of humanity – the foundations on which all good pedagogy is built.
Our participants come with a shared conviction: children deserve accompaniment that touches their hearts and awakens their minds.
Teachers
Teachers who deepen their pedagogical depth and accompany students as whole people
Parents & Families
Parents who want to accompany their children with love, clarity and self-efficacy
Professionals
Social workers, therapists and counsellors who work professionally with children and families
Higher education
Lecturers and students who bring humanistic values into science and teaching
Our 6 core principles
These principles guide every course design and every pedagogical decision.
Dignity of the child
Every child and adult is recognised as a complete person with their own dignity and their own pace of development.
Joy of learning
Learning should be joyful. Pressure, fear and shame have no place in our courses.
Holism
We address head, heart and hands – cognitive, emotional and practical competences belong together.
Community
Learning is a social process. Exchange, mutual support and community are central learning spaces.
Transparency
We communicate openly about our methods, limitations and development goals.
Evidence-based practice
We are guided by scientifically grounded findings from pedagogy and developmental psychology.
Our scientific roots
We stand on the shoulders of great thinkers in humanistic psychology and pedagogy.
Abraham Maslow
(1908–1970)Hierarchy of needs & self-actualisation"What a man can be, he must be."
Maslow showed that learning only succeeds when basic needs are met: safety, belonging, appreciation. In our courses, we consciously create a space where all participants feel safe and valued – as a prerequisite for real growth.
Carl Rogers
(1902–1987)Person-centred approach"The only learning which significantly influences behaviour is self-discovered, self-appropriated learning."
Rogers developed the person-centred approach: empathy, authenticity and unconditional positive regard are the foundation of every healing relationship – including in education. Our course leaders work according to these principles.
Erich Fromm
(1900–1980)Humanistic ethics & love as an art"Love is an art that must be learned."
Fromm taught that love – towards children, oneself, the community – is not a spontaneous emotion, but a capacity that must be developed. Our parent courses are built on this foundation.
John Dewey
(1859–1952)Learning through experience"Education is not preparation for life; education is life itself."
Dewey emphasised that genuine learning arises through direct experience. Our courses are therefore practice-oriented: reflection, exchange and concrete exercises are at the centre – not abstract theory.
Shalva Amonashvili
(1931–)Humanistic pedagogy of joy"A child is not a vessel to be filled, but a flame to be ignited."
Prof. Amonashvili is the direct spiritual father of our school. His humanistic pedagogy of joy, compassion and dignity is the heart of our approach. The Humanistic School Switzerland was founded in direct collaboration with his school in Georgia.
What research says
Our pedagogical principles are supported by independent scientific studies and international research reports. The following studies were not commissioned by us.
John Hattie – Visible Learning (2009)
Meta-analysisUniversity of Melbourne – Independent meta-analysis
Hattie analysed over 800 meta-studies with more than 80 million learners. Result: the teacher-student relationship, feedback and self-efficacy are the strongest predictors of learning success – far ahead of curricula or teaching methods. Core principles of humanistic pedagogy.
OECD – Education at a Glance
OECD reportOrganisation for Economic Co-operation – Independent
OECD reports consistently show: school systems that promote social and emotional competences (SEL) achieve better long-term outcomes in wellbeing, employment and social participation. Humanistic education is SEL in its purest form.
WHO – Life Skills Education (1994/2020)
WHO recommendationWorld Health Organisation – Independent
The WHO recommends life skills education (empathy, communication, problem-solving, self-awareness) as a preventive measure against mental illness, addiction and violence. These skills are core content of humanistic pedagogy.
Durlak et al. – SEL Meta-Analyse (2011)
Peer-reviewedCollaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL) – Independent
213 studies with over 270,000 students show: social-emotional learning improves academic performance by an average of 11 percentage points and significantly reduces behavioural problems. Published in the Child Development journal.
Swiss Federal Statistical Office – Education Report (2023)
Swiss reportSwiss Confederation – Independent
The Swiss Education Report 2023 highlights that wellbeing, sense of belonging and learning motivation are crucial for educational success – and that these factors are significantly influenced by relationship quality and school climate.
Amonashvili – Humanistic Pedagogy (1980–2020)
Practice researchInternational Amonashvili Society – Practice research
Decades of practical research in Georgia, Russia and other countries documents: children who grow up in humanistic learning environments show higher self-regulation, stronger empathy and more sustainable learning motivation than in authoritative comparison groups.
Long-term goal: State-recognised school according to Lehrplan 21
Currently we are a private educational association with course and continuing education offerings. Our long-term goal is to found a state-recognised private school in Switzerland – with full alignment with the Lehrplan 21 of the EDK (Swiss Conference of Cantonal Ministers of Education).
Private educational association, courses & continuing education for parents, teachers and professionals
eduQua certification, SVEB membership, scientific networking
State-recognised private school with Lehrplan 21 alignment and EDK compliance
What sets us apart
Humanistic education is not a trend – it is an answer to the deepest questions of our time: how do children grow into strong, compassionate people? How do adults become companions who truly help?
✨ What we are
Education for children and adults alike
We accompany children in their development and at the same time strengthen the adults who accompany them – parents, teachers, educators. Because a child can only grow as far as the adults around them are willing to develop themselves.
Scientifically grounded – not ideological
Our methods are based on over 100 years of research: Maslow, Rogers, Fromm, Dewey, Amonashvili. We combine developmental psychology, attachment theory and humanistic ethics into a coherent, practical approach.
Heart education as the foundation of society
A society is as strong as its interpersonal relationships. We believe: when children grow up with dignity, compassion and self-efficacy, adults emerge who take responsibility – for themselves, their families and the community.
Bridge between cultures and generations
With locations in Switzerland and Thailand, we connect Western educational science with Asian wisdom. Our courses address grandparents, parents, teachers and university lecturers alike.
Prevention rather than repair
Humanistic education is prevention: it reduces conflicts, burnout, school failure and family crises before they arise. Investments in education today save society enormous costs tomorrow.
Self-efficacy as a learning goal
We do not teach recipes, but strengthen inner competence: parents who can truly listen to their children. Teachers who see students as whole people. Professionals who act with heart and mind.
Community and mutual support
Our courses create more than knowledge – they create community. Parents who support each other. Teachers who learn from each other. A growing movement of people who understand education as a matter of the heart.
Lifelong learning as an attitude
Humanistic education does not end with graduation. We accompany people at all stages of life – as new parents, as experienced teachers, as grandparents rediscovering their role.
Building a healthy, strong society
Our long-term goal is a society in which children learn with joy, adults lead with compassion and communities are built on mutual respect. Every course, every encounter, every certificate is a step in this direction.
Transparent about limitations and development goals
We are honest about what we are not yet: not yet state-recognised, still being built. This honesty is itself an expression of humanistic values – and the foundation of genuine trust.