Swiss higher education institutions in the Erasmus+ “European universities”
Swiss higher education institutions were admitted to participate in Erasmus+ "European Higher Education" projects for the first time in 2022. In total, 9 Swiss higher education institutions now participate in Erasmus+ funded alliances. This corresponds to 40% of all universities and universities of applied sciences in Switzerland. All Swiss higher education institutions involved in these projects were also successful with their applications for Swiss funding.
The European Universities Initiative is a unique opportunity for Swiss higher education institutions to strengthen their relations with European partner institutions at a very strategic level in education, research, innovation and service to society, as well as to participate in the further development of the European Higher Education and Research Area (EHEA and ERA).
9 Erasmus+ “European Universities” with Swiss Participation
A total of 50 "European Universities" are now active. "European Universities" are possible at different levels and in different thematic areas. The projects with Swiss participation reflect this range. The following projects with links to Swiss HEIs were selected for Erasmus+ funding, and the respective Swiss partner institution for Swiss Programme for Erasmus+ funding (alliances in alphabetical order):
EELISA – with the Zurich University of Applied Sciences (ZHAW)
EELISA (European Engineering Learning Innovation and Science Alliance) is a transnational alliance of 10 higher education institutions, including the ZHAW. The alliance has its origins in the engineering sciences and its project (2023-2027) aims to bring together a new generation of creative Europeans. The aim is to enable them to work together across national and disciplinary boundaries to address the major societal challenges and skills shortages facing Europe.
Find out more: EELISA Project, EELISA alliance and media release ZHAW
ENHANCE+ – with the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich (ETHZ)
The ENHANCE alliance, which includes nine other technical and scientific universities in addition to ETH Zurich, is intensifying its cooperation in teaching and innovation promotion with the ENHANCE+ project (2023-2027). By working together, it creates new teaching opportunities with attractive formats and content, facilitates mobility between institutions and promotes discourse with society on current and visionary topics. In this way, students develop a broad range of competences and are optimally prepared for the upcoming social and professional challenges.
Find out more: ENHANCE+ Project, ENHANCE alliance, ETHZ & ENHANCE, Blog (On the Importance of European Exchange)
By joining ENLIGHT, the University of Bern has entered into an alliance of ten research-intensive generalist universities. As part of its project (2023-2027), ENLIGHT is developing innovative mobility offers for students and diverse exchange opportunities for staff. The aim of ENLIGHT is to create an open teaching and learning space where students and staff can engage in lifelong learning. Its thematic focus is on societal challenges in the following key topics: health, digitalisation, climate change, energy transition, social justice, culture and creativity.
Find out more: ENLIGHT – Membership of the University of Bern, Interview with Rector Christian Leumann, Media release of the University of Bern, ENLIGHT alliance
EuroTeQ Engineering University 2030 – with the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne (EPFL)
EuroTeQ 2030 (2023-2027) brings together seven leading universities of science & technology and two business schools to shape the engineering education of the future and, in particular, to increase the positive impact of their activities on society. In the project, the alliance will research, create, test and implement innovative engineering education based on educational mobility, relevance to society and adaptability to the changing needs of the future workforce.
Find out more: EuroTeQ 2030 Project, media release EPFL, EuroTech alliance, EPFL & EuroTeQ
UNITA - with the University of Applied Sciences and Arts of Western Switzerland (HES-SO)
The UNITA project (2023-2027) brings together 12 partner higher education institutions, including the HES-SO, as well as the independent legal entity UNITA. The project promotes transnational cooperation in the areas of communication, cooperation in mountain regions and the promotion of Romance languages. The UNITA alliance covers in particular the areas of education through innovative training models as well as research through the cooperation of research teams. Activities are carried out with the close involvement of staff from all universities, and the alliance also implements sustainable, transnational leadership and cooperation models.
Find out more: UNITA Project, UNITA alliance, HES-SO & UNITA
The four-year projects will kick off between October and December 2023.
Call 2022:
1CORE – with the University of Geneva (UNIGE)
The 4EU+ alliance is constituted by seven leading, comprehensive and research-intensive universities across Europe (incl. UNIGE), organised as an association since 2021 to realise its vision of a truly European university. The 1CORE project (2022-2026) from 4EU+, building on the achievements of the past years and structured around the 4EU+ flagships (Urban health and demographic change, Europeanness, Digitalisation - modelling - transformation and Environmental transitions), will expand the alliance's common educational offer, develop innovative pedagogies, move towards seamless mobility, deploy new solutions for the common campus and implement new actions to engage society.
Find out more: 1CORE, 4EU+ and UNIGE & 4EU+
CIVIS2 – with the University of Lausanne (UNIL)
CIVIS is – like Una Europa and EPICUR – one of the largest alliances and aims to strengthen the competitiveness of the European Higher Education Area and ensure access to higher education for a larger number of students and staff. The project CIVIS2 (2022-2026) focuses on sustainably increasing mobility, pooling resources and strengthening cooperation through common education and research agendas.
Read more: CIVIS2, CIVIS and UNIL & CIVIS
EPICUR-SHAPE-IT – with the University of Basel (UNIBAS) participating through EUCOR
The EPICUR alliance brings together nine EU higher education institutions. The project EPICUR-SHAPE-IT (2022-2026) aims to deepen and expand the systematic and long-term institutional cooperation from the 2019-2022 pilot project. In teaching, a joint range of courses on socially relevant topics is to be established and innovative teaching formats suitable for inter-university studies are to be developed. In addition, joint structural elements are to be created that will sustainably increase the joint educational offer and expand the content. Another important goal is to increase student mobility at Bachelor's, Master's and doctoral level. The UNIBAS will engage in this alliance as a member of the EUCOR network.
Read more: EPICUR-SHAPE-IT, EPICUR und press release UNIBAS
Una.Futura – with the University of Zurich (UZH)
The alliance Una Europa expands the network, activities and ambitions of the pilot project 1EUROPA 2019-2022 in the Una.Futura project (2022-2026). Eleven renowned research universities are involved in the alliance. In six focus areas (Cultural Heritage, Data Science and AI, European Studies, One Health, Sustainability and Material Design & Engineering), further joint learning opportunities including degrees are to be established and the mobility of students and staff further increased.
Read more: Una.Futura, Una Europa and UZH & Una Europa