Universities of applied sciences: What is new?
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Legal basis
The following laws and regulations form the legal basis for the universities:
The following laws and regulations form the legal basis for the universities:
 | Federal law on universities of applied sciences (FHSG) of 6 October 1995 |
| Ordinance of the EDV on the admission of studies at universities of applied sciences of 2 September 2005 |
| Regulation by the EDV on approval of studies at universities of applied sciences of 2nd of September 2005, |
| Ordinance of the EDV on the admission of courses, post diploma studies and titles at universities of applied sciences of 2 September 2005 |
Law on universities of applied sciences
The partial revision of the law on universities of applied sciences of 17 December 2004 created important framework conditions enabling the universities of applied sciences (FH) to be remain competitive in the international higher education field and to develop accordingly. The scope of this law has been extended to the categories of healthcare, social work and arts. With the revision of the federal constitution of 1 January 2000, the responsibilities for higher education in the area of healthcare, social work and arts (GKS) were transferred to the Confederation.
Furthermore, the revision of the law on universities of applied sciences prepares the legal basis for a two-stage study system with Bachelor and Master degrees and anchors a system of credit and quality assurance. The partial revision was passed by the parliament in its winter session of 2004. The partially revised law on universities of applied sciences and the associated federal ordinances came into effect on 5 October 2005 to allow the universities of applied sciences to begin with their Bachelor course of studies in the winter semester 2005 / 2006.
University landscape
After expiry of the university promotion law (Universitätsförderungsgesetz), a new law is to be passed at federal level covering all universities and colleges (universities, universities of applied sciences including the universities of teacher education). A joint university conference incorporating confederation and cantons is planned for governing the entire "university landscape" system on the basis of a new education article in the federal constitution. This will be the sole public-sector regulatory body. The new university legislation has the following goals:
The partial revision of the law on universities of applied sciences of 17 December 2004 created important framework conditions enabling the universities of applied sciences (FH) to be remain competitive in the international higher education field and to develop accordingly. The scope of this law has been extended to the categories of healthcare, social work and arts. With the revision of the federal constitution of 1 January 2000, the responsibilities for higher education in the area of healthcare, social work and arts (GKS) were transferred to the Confederation.
Furthermore, the revision of the law on universities of applied sciences prepares the legal basis for a two-stage study system with Bachelor and Master degrees and anchors a system of credit and quality assurance. The partial revision was passed by the parliament in its winter session of 2004. The partially revised law on universities of applied sciences and the associated federal ordinances came into effect on 5 October 2005 to allow the universities of applied sciences to begin with their Bachelor course of studies in the winter semester 2005 / 2006.
University landscape
After expiry of the university promotion law (Universitätsförderungsgesetz), a new law is to be passed at federal level covering all universities and colleges (universities, universities of applied sciences including the universities of teacher education). A joint university conference incorporating confederation and cantons is planned for governing the entire "university landscape" system on the basis of a new education article in the federal constitution. This will be the sole public-sector regulatory body. The new university legislation has the following goals:
| Creation of a uniform Swiss university and research landscape |
| Strengthening of overall governance |
| Standardisation and simplification of the financial regulations to enable improvements in the quality of teaching, research and services |
| Creation of a mechanism for improving task distribution between the universities |
Master plan of the universities of applied sciences
In the master plan of the universities of applied sciences (FH), the Confederation and the cantons have agreed on the strategic priorities and their financing for 2004 to 2007 and have decided on measures to increase efficiency.
In the master plan of the universities of applied sciences (FH), the Confederation and the cantons have agreed on the strategic priorities and their financing for 2004 to 2007 and have decided on measures to increase efficiency.
| A high quality education and the expansion of research and development have the highest priority at the universities. |
| The Confederation and the cantons agree to common criteria regarding the financing of the university system. |
The master plan project has led to greater cost transparency and will be continued through to the planning periods of 2008 to 2011.
Two stage study model according to Bologna
The Swiss Conference of Universities of Applied Sciences (Fachhochschulrat) of the Swiss Conference of Cantonal Ministers of Education (EDK) issued guidelines for the implementation of the Bologna Declaration to the universities of applied sciences (FH) and the universities of teacher education (PH) on 5 December 2002. These guidelines secure co-ordination of the extensive study reforms initiated throughout Europe with the Bologna Declaration of 1999 throughout Switzerland. All study courses must be converted to the new two tier study model before 2010. The first study stage will be completed with the Bachelor degree and the second with the Master degree.
Bachelor
The Bachelor courses are generally qualifications linked with a professional field and will replace the university of applied sciences diploma. The course can only be completed after a study period of at least three years. The first Bachelor courses at the universities of applied sciences will begin in the winter semester of 2005.
Master
The Master courses impart additional in-depth and specialised knowledge. The course can only be completed after a period of study of at least one and a half years.
A Bachelor degree or a similar university qualification is the pre-condition for the admittance to Master studies. The strong interdisciplinary definition of the second educational stage (Master) and the networking with other key partners are likely to lead to a closer cooperation with the Federal Institutes of Technology (ETH) and the universities. A small number of Master courses will be offered at the universities of applied sciences (FH) from 2008. Their introduction will be coordinated through the whole of Switzerland. The Confederation and the cantons are currently working on the criteria for the future Master study courses.
Equal opportunities
Women are not very well represented in the fields of technology, economics and information technology in the universities of applied sciences (FH). On the other hand, women are very well represented in the fields of teaching and teacher education, healthcare, social work and arts. Awareness of the question of equal opportunities is an important goal for the university policy of the Confederation. Key focal points are the following:
Two stage study model according to Bologna
The Swiss Conference of Universities of Applied Sciences (Fachhochschulrat) of the Swiss Conference of Cantonal Ministers of Education (EDK) issued guidelines for the implementation of the Bologna Declaration to the universities of applied sciences (FH) and the universities of teacher education (PH) on 5 December 2002. These guidelines secure co-ordination of the extensive study reforms initiated throughout Europe with the Bologna Declaration of 1999 throughout Switzerland. All study courses must be converted to the new two tier study model before 2010. The first study stage will be completed with the Bachelor degree and the second with the Master degree.
Bachelor
The Bachelor courses are generally qualifications linked with a professional field and will replace the university of applied sciences diploma. The course can only be completed after a study period of at least three years. The first Bachelor courses at the universities of applied sciences will begin in the winter semester of 2005.
Master
The Master courses impart additional in-depth and specialised knowledge. The course can only be completed after a period of study of at least one and a half years.
A Bachelor degree or a similar university qualification is the pre-condition for the admittance to Master studies. The strong interdisciplinary definition of the second educational stage (Master) and the networking with other key partners are likely to lead to a closer cooperation with the Federal Institutes of Technology (ETH) and the universities. A small number of Master courses will be offered at the universities of applied sciences (FH) from 2008. Their introduction will be coordinated through the whole of Switzerland. The Confederation and the cantons are currently working on the criteria for the future Master study courses.
Equal opportunities
Women are not very well represented in the fields of technology, economics and information technology in the universities of applied sciences (FH). On the other hand, women are very well represented in the fields of teaching and teacher education, healthcare, social work and arts. Awareness of the question of equal opportunities is an important goal for the university policy of the Confederation. Key focal points are the following:
| Equal opportunities must be anchored in in the strategy of the universities of applied sciences (FH) as a quality criteria and be implemented through a practice-orientated concept. |
| More women should study, research and teach at the universities of applied sciences (FH). |
An agenda has been created to implement these goals. A sum of ten million CHF is available for the second phase of the programe from 2004 to 2007.
| Institutions responsible for universities of applied sciences |
