Universities: What is new?
 |  | The Federal Law on the financial aid to universities and on inter-university cooperation of October 8, 1999 regulates the coordination and cooperation among the Swiss universities and is based upon the Federal constitution of 18 April 1999 (Articles 63 and 64). |
Legal bases
As a joint body of the Confederation and the cantons, the Swiss University Conference (SUK) is responsible for the issuing of guidelines in different, clearly defined areas. To date, it has issued guidelines for the accrediting in the universities and for the coordinated renewal of teaching at the universities in Switzerland in the scope of the Bologna process.
University landscape
After the law regulating financial aid to universities has lapsed, a new law will need to be passed at Confederation level for all higher education institutions (universities, universities of applied sciences including the universities of teacher education). A combined university conference of the Confederation and the cantons is planned for the regulation of the entire university landscape system. This should be the only regulatory body at political level governing the Swiss high school landscape. The new university legislation has the following goals:
As a joint body of the Confederation and the cantons, the Swiss University Conference (SUK) is responsible for the issuing of guidelines in different, clearly defined areas. To date, it has issued guidelines for the accrediting in the universities and for the coordinated renewal of teaching at the universities in Switzerland in the scope of the Bologna process.
University landscape
After the law regulating financial aid to universities has lapsed, a new law will need to be passed at Confederation level for all higher education institutions (universities, universities of applied sciences including the universities of teacher education). A combined university conference of the Confederation and the cantons is planned for the regulation of the entire university landscape system. This should be the only regulatory body at political level governing the Swiss high school landscape. The new university legislation has the following goals:
 | Creation of a uniform Swiss university and research landscape |
| Strengthening of the governance of the overall system |
| Strengthening of the autonomy of the universities, |
| Standardisation and simplification of the financial guidelines to enable an improvement in the quality of teaching, research and services |
| Creation of a mechanism to improve of task distribution among the universities |
Two-tier study model in conformity with Bologna
On 4 December 2003, the Swiss University Conference SUK issued the guidelines for the coordinated renewal of teaching at the universities in Switzerland in accordance with the Bologna process. These binding guidelines for the Confederation and the university cantons ensure the coordination of the extensive study reforms within Switzerland that were initiated throughout Europe with the Bologna Declaration of 1999. All study courses must be converted to the new two tier study model by 2010. The first study stage will be completed with the Bachelor degree and the second with the Master degree.
With the two level study model Bachelor/Master, a system is introduced that aims to facilitate the recognition and comparison of university degrees. A credit system is established to evaluate study achievements in a comparable fashion and further measures will be introduced to remove mobility restraints and to promote European cooperation with regard to quality assurance.
On 4 December 2003, the Swiss University Conference SUK issued the guidelines for the coordinated renewal of teaching at the universities in Switzerland in accordance with the Bologna process. These binding guidelines for the Confederation and the university cantons ensure the coordination of the extensive study reforms within Switzerland that were initiated throughout Europe with the Bologna Declaration of 1999. All study courses must be converted to the new two tier study model by 2010. The first study stage will be completed with the Bachelor degree and the second with the Master degree.
With the two level study model Bachelor/Master, a system is introduced that aims to facilitate the recognition and comparison of university degrees. A credit system is established to evaluate study achievements in a comparable fashion and further measures will be introduced to remove mobility restraints and to promote European cooperation with regard to quality assurance.
| Institutions responsible for Swiss Universities |
 | Swiss University Conference |
| Rectors' Conference of the Swiss Universities CRUS |
| University Research: Swiss National Science Foundation |
| State Secretary for Education and Research (SBF) |
