Higher Education Act (HEdA)
English is not an official language of the Swiss Confederation. This translation is provided for information purposes only and has no legal force.
Art. 1 Purpose and object
1 The Confederation works with the Cantons to coordinate, maintain the quality and ensure the competitiveness of the entire higher education sector in Switzerland. 2 For this purpose, the present Act establishes the basic principles applying to the following: a. coordination of the entire Swiss higher education sector, particularly through the specification of joint bodies; b. quality control and accreditation; c. funding of higher education institutions and other institutions within the higher education sector; d. allocation of tasks in particularly costly areas; e. granting of federal contributions.
Art. 2 Scope
1 This Act applies to higher education institutions and other institutions within the higher education sector of the Confederation and the Cantons. 2 Higher education institutions under the terms of this Act are: a. cantonal universities and federal institutes of technology (FITs); b. universities of applied sciences (UAS) and universities of teacher education (UTEs). 3 With the exception of the provisions on basic contributions and contributions to cover expenditure for construction and use of buildings, this Act applies to all FITs and other federal higher education institutions. 4 The provisions of Chapter 5 and Chapter 9 of this Act shall apply for the accreditation of private universities, universities of applied sciences, universities of teacher education and other private institutions within the higher education sector. Article 19 paragraph 2 applies to the participation of these higher education institutions in the Swiss Conference of Rectors of Higher Education Institutions.
Art. 3 Objectives
As part of its cooperation activities within the higher education sector, the Confederation shall pursue the following objectives in particular: a. establishing general conditions that favour high-quality teaching and research; b. fostering a higher education sector comprised of different but equivalent types of higher education institutions; c. working to raise the profile of higher education institutions and encourage competition, particularly with regards to research; d. crafting a coherent Swiss higher education policy that is aligned with the federal policy to encourage research and innovation; e. achieving permeability and mobility between higher education institutions; f. creating uniform study structures, study levels and transitions and ensuring mutual recognition of qualifications; g. providing funding to higher education institutions on the basis of uniform and performance-based principles; h. ensuring coordination of the entire Swiss higher education sector and allocating t
Art. 4 Federal tasks and authority within the higher education sector
1 The Confederation is responsible for leading coordination of the joint activities of the Confederation and the Cantons within the higher education sector. 2 It shall provide contributions under the terms of this Act. 3 It shall manage and fund FITs under the terms of the FIT Act of 4 October 1991 as well as other federal higher education institutions by virtue of their respective legal basis. 4 The Federal Assembly may issue decrees enabling the Confederation to fully or partially take over higher education institutions, with the consent of the responsible body, if the said institutions are particularly important for federal activities. Before taking such action, the Confederation shall hear the Higher Education Council. 5 Under the terms of special legislation, the Confederation shall make contributions to the Swiss National Science Foundation, to the Swiss Innovation Agency (Innosuisse) as well as to national and international education and research programmes.
Para. 3 — SR 414.110 Para. 5 — Amended by Annex No 1 of the Innosuisse Act of 17 June 2016, in force since 1 Jan. 2018 (AS 2016 4259; BBl 2015 9487).
Art. 5 Principles of fulfilment of tasks
1 The Confederation shall respect the autonomy granted by responsible bodies to higher education institutions as well as the principles of freedom and the unity of teaching and research. 2 When performing its tasks, it shall consider the specific characteristics of cantonal universities, federal institutes of technology, universities of applied sciences, universities of teacher education and other institutions within the higher education sector.