8 May 2025 – swissuniversities, the Rectors' Conference of Swiss Higher Education Institutions, celebrated its 10th anniversary today in the presence of many distinguished guests. The event was an opportunity to reflect on a decade of significantly enhanced coordination between Switzerland’s universities.
A large audience gathered in Bern on 8 May 2025 to celebrate the anniversary. Among the notable guests were Luciana Vaccaro, President of swissuniversities, vice president of the Federal Council Guy Parmelin, Federal Chancellor Viktor Rossi, State Secretary for Education, Research and Innovation Martina Hirayama, State Councillor Jon Domenic Parolini, Head of Education, Culture and Environment in the canton of Grisons, Walter Rosenthal, President of the German Rectors' Conference, as well as many rectors from Swiss higher education institutions.
Building a unified voice
Since its establishment in 2015, swissuniversities has aimed to represent all Swiss higher education institutions with one unified voice. Bringing together 38 institutions – including cantonal universities, federal institutes of technology, universities of applied sciences and universities of teacher education – the organisation has created a unique platform for dialogue, where diverse institutional identities align around shared values.
A mission rooted in service to society
The strength of Switzerland’s higher education system lies in its diversity: different missions, institutional profiles and pedagogical approaches coexist and complement each other. This diversity, embodied in swissuniversities' membership, enables an agile response to the challenges facing society.
The impact of swissuniversities goes beyond the academic sphere. The organisation actively promotes high-quality, accessible and future-oriented education. Through institutional coordination and the management of federally supported projects, it contributes to Switzerland’s technical, social, cultural and educational innovation, and to the training of a skilled workforce.
Strengthened national and international cooperation
Over the past ten years, swissuniversities has strengthened its ties with key actors in Switzerland’s education, research and innovation (ERI) system, as well as with the Swiss Conference of Higher Education Institutions. On the international level, it prioritises cooperation, especially by advocating for Switzerland’s full reintegration into European research and education programmes.
Dialogue in the service of excellence
In a rapidly changing world, it is crucial to ensure favourable framework conditions for higher education institutions – institutionally, politically and financially. swissuniversities is fully committed to deepening dialogue and cooperation in this direction.
Excellence, coordination, dialogue and innovation: these are the foundations of swissuniversities' mission and of Switzerland’s ability to meet the major challenges of our time.