History
With the inauguration of USI, in 1996, the Italian-speaking part of Switzerland chose to play an active role towards the intellectual and socio-economic growth of the country, and not only – by leveraging at best its convenient cultural position between northern Europe and the Mediterranean.
"The proposal for a University in the Italian-speaking region of Switzerland is brought forward not just despite the crisis, but, if anything, because we are in a crisis.
USI embodies Canton Ticino’s desire to dare and hope”
Giuseppe Buffi, Consigliere di Stato del Canton Ticino (1986-2000)
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The failure of CUSI and the legacy of Stefano Franscini
Education as freedom
USI saw the light ten years after the failure of the project for a post-graduate continuing education institution in Ticino (CUSI, Centro universitario della Svizzera italiana), by the initiative of a number of concerned citizens and leading intellectuals determined to maintain the essential elements of statesman Stefano Franscini’s vision, a founding father of modern Ticino who as early as 1844 underlined the importance of higher education in Ticino. At the time, the Canton south of the Alps was poor, rural and with high levels of illiteracy, and Franscini saw in education, at not only basic but also advanced levels, a powerful means for emancipation.
A way for the future
Over a century after the original ideas of Stefano Franscini, in the 1990s Ticino had become a wealthy region with an affluent services industry, but was also hit by a major economic crisis. In this context, the founders of USI saw in our university the opportunity for new development and empowerment of a region to be acknowledged for its role within the Federal state and in the world.
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The birth of USI, where those with a purpose will find ways to achieve it
The two initial projects
USI is the result of the combination of two projects initiated in the 1990s:
- 1992-1994: the idea of architect Mario Botta to create an Academy of architecture in Ticino, with the support of Councilor of State Giuseppe Buffi, minister of Education from 1986 to 2000, and the mayor of the City of Mendrisio, Carlo Croci;
- 1993-1995: the vision of a “freie Universität” (free University) in Lugano, with a faculty of economics and a faculty of communication sciences, championed by the then mayor of the City of Lugano, Giorgio Giudici and city council members Giuliano Bignasca and Giorgio Salvadè. A scientific group, formed by Mauro Baranzini, Sergio Cigada and Lanfranco Senn, joined thereafter by Luigi Dadda and Remigio Ratti, were then commissioned with the development of the project.
The coming together
The ‘marriage’ of the two projects is celebrated by Giuseppe Buffi, assisted by Mauro Martinoni and Mauro Dell’Ambrogio, and is enacted on October 3rd, 1995, with the Ticino parliament (Grand Council) approval of the Law on the Università della Svizzera italiana, thus establishing a public university with three faculties, designed to stand out for their novelty within the Swiss university system:
- the Academy of Architecture, built on the centuries-old legacy of past and contemporary Ticinese masters, is defined by an educational philosophy where building is an art, rather than just a mere technical matter;
- the Faculty of Economics, created to provide new stimuli to the third financial marketplace in Switzerland with a curriculum combining topics on quantitative methods and social-economic analysis;
- the Faculty of Communication Sciences, unique in Switzerland for its approach to communication as a human condition, beyond its mere aspect of it being an instrument.
The beginning of classes
One year later, upon formal approval by the Swiss Science and Innovation Council, on October 21st, 1996 USI opened its doors to the first enrolled students and gave its first classes.
Explore those early moments here
Ticino becomes a university canton
Soon after the first Dies (March 8th, 1997), in the year 2000, the first degrees were awarded and, at the same time, the definite acknowledgement of the Federal Council was announced, certifying Ticino with the status of Cantonal University.
Federal Councilor Ruth Dreifuss, during a speech given at the first Dies academicus on March 8th, 1997, was keen in outlining the events that led to the creation of USI: “those with a purpose will find ways to achieve it”.
A timeline of events that lead to the creation of a university in southern Switzerland
1588
A document preserved in the historical archives of the City of Lucerne provides evidence of the first attempts to establish a university in Lugano, at first by Somascan Fathers, then by the Jesuits – both failed.
1844
The Parliament of the Canton Ticino (Grand Council) approves the project of Stefano Franscini for the creation of an academic institution in Ticino (“Accademia Ticinese”), but the project is shelved, due to the financial troubles of the Canton and to the rivalries between the cities of Locarno, Bellinzona and Lugano.
1912-1960
Throughout the first half of the 20th century, several discussions took place and at least new three attempts were made, none of which were successful.
1985
The Grand Council approves the project for an institute of continuous education, the “Centro Universitario della Svizzera italiana” (CUSI), but the project was rejected by referendum in 1986.
1991
At the celebrations for the 700th anniversary of the Swiss Confederation, Federal councilor Flavio Cotti gives as peech in Poschiavo, underlining the potential for the Italian-speaking regions of
the country to contribute in the academic and scientific sector and, as such, the need for a new initiative on the subject.
1992-1994
Mario Botta takes the cue from Roland Crottaz (President of the ETH Board) for the creation of an Academy of Architecture. Then, mandated by the Ticino government, he designs a project together with Cantonal minister Giuseppe Buffi for its realization.
1993
The City of Lugano mandates Mauro Baranzini, Sergio Cigada and Lanfranco Senn to draft detailed project for the creation of two Faculties in Lugano. Luigi Dadda and Remigio Ratti join the team two years later.
1995
In March, the City Council of Lugano approves the project for the creation of two Faculties, one of Communication Sciences and one of Economics.
In October, the Ticino Parliament approves the Bill for the Università della Svizzera italiana, with the two Faculties in Lugano and the Academy of Architecture in Mendrisio.
1996
The Swiss Science Council gives the green light to the creations of the Università della Svizzera italiana. On October 21, 1996, at 8:30am, the first lectures are given on the Lugano and Mendrisio campuses.
2000
Together with its first degrees awarded, USI is fully accredited by the Federal Council, thus conferring Ticino the status of university Canton.
The journey of USI
2001
USI is one of the first universities in Switzerland to adopt the higher education framework established by the Bologna Declaration.
2004
The Faculty of Informatics is established under the auspices of the first President of USI, Marco Baggiolini (January 1997 – August 2006).
2007
The Institute of Italian Studies is established.
2008
The new Institute of Computational Science is created within the Faculty of Informatics.
2010
The Institute of Research in Biomedicine (IRB, Bellinzona) is affiliated to USI.
2011
Prof. Michele Parrinello (Faculty of Informatics) receives the Marcel Benoist Prize, the most important scientific award in Switzerland, for his work in the field of computational science.
2014
The Faculty of Biomedical Sciences is established under the auspices of the second President of USI, Piero Martinoli (September 2006 – August 2016).
2016
A new organisational model comes into force, and Boas Erez, becomes the first Rector of USI (September 2016 – May 2022).
The Institute of Oncology Research (IOR, Bellinzona) is affiliated to USI.
2017
The Academic Senate holds its first meeting.
2019
The Faculty of Communication Sciences becomes the Faculty of Communication, Culture and Society.
The new exhibition venue of L’ideatorio in Cadro is inaugurated.
2020
The Istituto ricerche solari Aldo e Cele Daccò (IRSOL, Locarno) is affiliated with USI.
The Student Corporation is established.
2021
The Facoltà di Teologia di Lugano (FTL) is affiliated to USI.
The new Lugano East Campus and the new Bellinzona Campus are inaugurated.
2023
The first medical doctors trained at USI graduate.
The first joint graduation ceremony of the Lugano Faculties is held.
2024
The Casa della sostenibilità in Airolo is inaugurated.
2025
The Institute of Translational Research (IRT), a joint USI-EOC institute, is established.
On the initiative of Rector Luisa Lambertini (July 2023 – December 2025), the first open day for the general public, UniVerso, is held.
USI signs and ratifies the Magna Charta Universitatum (MCU 2020).