USI is among the top Swiss universities for mobility
International Relations and Study abroad Service
20 January 2023
According to a study by the National Agency Movetia, Università della Svizzera italiana is one of four universities to have reached the goal of 20 percent of graduates with experience abroad.
Student mobility fosters important intercultural, professional, and personal skills and improves the employability of recent graduates. For this reason, the Swiss strategy for exchange and mobility adopted by the federal government and cantons in 2017 aims for all young students to participate in long-term exchange and mobility activities during their education. In addition, the Bologna Process for a European Higher Education Area (EHEA) aims to have at least 20 percent of graduates with study or practical experience abroad.
The average mobility rate of Swiss universities is 15.7 percent. It is the result of a study conducted by Lucas Haldimann, a research associate affiliated with the University of Lausanne, on behalf of Movetia, the national exchange agency. It is the first study of its kind conducted in Switzerland.
Mobility rates at Swiss universities vary from 1 percent to 50 percent. Università della Svizzera italiana is one of four institutions to reach the 20 percent target, along with the St. Gallen Pedagogical High School (PHSG), the University of St. Gallen (UNISG) and the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne (EPFL).
To identify the causes of the significant differences in mobility shares, the Movetia study also developed an internationalisation index that considers various factors such as the internationalisation of teaching, international collaborations and nationality of students and faculty. Università della Svizzera italiana is the Swiss institution with the highest index, followed by the University of St. Gallen and the two Federal Institutes of Technology.
For additional information please contact the International Relations and Study Abroad Service.
