Switzerland’s participation in Erasmus+ opens up new opportunities

Susanne Reich: Mr Tschopp, Movetia is preparing Swiss educational institutions and universities for a return to the Erasmus+ programme from 2027. From a strategic perspective, what would renewed participation in Erasmus+ mean for Switzerland as a centre of education and innovation?

Olivier Tschopp: Erasmus+ is the world’s largest funding programme for international cooperation in education and training, making it strategically important for Swiss higher education institutions and institutions of vocational education. Rejoining the programme would strengthen Switzerland’s position within the European Education and Research Area and enhance its economic competitiveness. At the same time, it would give Switzerland a seat at the table in shaping future European education policies and strategies. 

Erasmus+ is far more than a mobility programme. It provides a framework for education, collaboration, innovation and the exchange of good practice across Europe. In an increasingly complex geopolitical environment, access to European alliances, networks and centres of excellence is becoming ever more important. Furthermore, the opportunities provided by Erasmus+ could also be advantageous for other areas of education. In this context, renewed participation would make a significant contribution to safeguarding Switzerland’s long-term capacity for innovation, competitiveness and educational excellence.

Let’s look at this from a different perspective. In your view, what added value would Switzerland’s participation bring to the European Higher Education Area as a whole?

Switzerland is internationally recognised for the quality of its education system and its strong culture of innovation. Full participation in Erasmus+ would allow these strengths to contribute more directly to the European Higher Education Area. Unlike under the current arrangements, Swiss higher education institutions would be able not only to participate in projects but also to initiate and coordinate them, taking on leadership roles within international consortia. I believe this would provide European partner institutions with greater strategic and financial planning certainty, making it easier to develop long-term partnerships and joint initiatives in areas such as inclusion, diversity and sustainability. 

Switzerland could also contribute valuable expertise in future-oriented fields, including digitalisation – for instance in digital identity management. Beyond this, closer cooperation would create new opportunities for transnational study programmes and more efficient use of resources. Examples include joint professorships, shared research and teaching infrastructure, and coordinated curricula, particularly in strategically important disciplines such as engineering, nursing and economics. I am convinced that Switzerland’s participation would contribute not only to the qualitative development of the European Higher Education Area but also to its long-term structural and strategic strengthening.

For the sake of argument, let us assume that Parliament will give its approval in December. What can European and Swiss higher education institutions do today to prepare for closer cooperation under Erasmus+ from 2027 onwards?

European and Swiss higher education institutions can already take important preparatory steps to ensure that the opportunities arising from Switzerland’s accession can be fully realised from day one. For example, "Inter-Institutional Agreements (IIAs)" or "IIA-EWP (Erasmus Without Paper) " can already be set up between higher education institutions. At the same time, mobility should be promoted and the associated administrative procedures streamlined. It would also be beneficial to develop joint KA2 projects at an early stage, involving Swiss higher education institutions from the outset and, where appropriate, enabling them to take on coordinating roles. Last but not least, it is crucial to share information widely across existing networks in order to ensure transparency, connect stakeholders and foster cooperation at an early stage.

Many of our readers will be particularly interested in what concrete steps German higher education institutions can take now to ensure that Switzerland’s participation in Erasmus+ from the 2027 call onwards gets off to a smooth start?

First and foremost, German higher education institutions can maintain existing partnerships while actively exploring new opportunities for collaboration. I would encourage them to communicate the prospects for cooperation and exchange with Swiss educational institutions to all relevant target groups at an early stage – from students and academic staff to administrative and support personnel. Clear responsibilities and efficient administrative processes are key to ensuring that exchange programmes can begin without delay.

That brings me to my next question. What issues or uncertainties regarding Switzerland’s planned participation in Erasmus+ do you most frequently encounter in discussions with your European partners?

Firstly, there is uncertainty about whether Parliament will grant formal approval, as well as about the possible outcome of a referendum. Understandably, this makes it more difficult for partner institutions to plan with confidence. At the same time, however, there is considerable interest in strengthening cooperation with Swiss higher education institutions. Another issue that is often raised concerns the fact that Switzerland’s education system differs in certain respects from those of many other European countries. This requires flexibility and a willingness on both sides to find workable compromise. A further consideration is the comparatively high cost of living and labour in Switzerland. 

On the other hand, Swiss institutions and project managers are widely regarded as highly efficient and reliable, which in many cases helps offset the cost factor when it comes to practical implementation. Overall, I sense a constructive attitude: there is strong support among Swiss higher education institutions and universities of applied sciences for participation in Erasmus+. Movetia is actively supporting them in their preparations. Even if association were ultimately not granted, alternative forms of cooperation would still remain available. In any case, collaboration with Swiss higher education institutions continues to be an attractive prospect.

Some voices in Switzerland are critical of participation, partly due to the associated costs. What advantages, in your view, outweigh these concerns?

In my view, the strongest argument in favour of accession is the high and growing demand for exchange programmes. Mobility within Switzerland has increased significantly in recent years, and Erasmus+ is a well-known and well-established programme. At the same time, for some people – and this has become more apparent in recent months – Erasmus is still closely linked to images such as the film “L’auberge espagnole”. Yet much has changed since then, not only in higher education. The true extent of what Erasmus+ offers as an educational programme, not just mobility, but also collaboration and cooperation in areas such as youth and sport, is not widely known. This lack of awareness makes it more difficult to convince people.

I understand the concerns raised about the costs, but I believe they do not reflect the full picture. In the long term, the benefits clearly outweigh the costs, both strategically and economically. In the current geopolitical context, it is essential that Switzerland can play an active role in shaping the agenda. Cooperation in education provides an important avenue for this and will become increasingly significant as institutions seek to make effective use of limited resources. Erasmus+ responds directly to this need by fostering structured cooperation, strengthening links between institutions and organisations, and building institutional capacity. 

At the same time, the demands placed on university graduates are changing rapidly. To remain competitive globally, the labour market requires specialists and managers with strong problem-solving abilities, independence and adaptability. Resilience and flexibility are also increasingly important. These are precisely the skills that are developed and reinforced through periods spent abroad. For Switzerland, as a knowledge-based economy, talent and skills are its most important resources. Investment in education is therefore not optional, but essential. I am convinced that, in the long term, the cost of non-participation would exceed the cost of participation.

Let’s also talk about your role in Switzerland’s participation in Erasmus+. Movetia has been designated as Switzerland’s National Agency for Erasmus+. What does this mean for your organisation, and what preparations are currently underway with a view to possible re-association from 2027 onwards?

For Movetia, this means above all that we are already working actively to ensure a smooth transition. We are currently undergoing an "ex-ante compliance assessment", the accreditation process as a National Agency, which is expected to be completed shortly. In parallel, we have been implementing comprehensive preparatory measures for higher education institutions, universities of applied sciences and other education providers for more than six months. 

A key focus is communication and support with administrative processes, particularly in relation to "Erasmus Charter for Higher Education" (ECHE) applications. We organise regular information events, including the Movetia conference "Erasmus+ in Switzerland" in March 2026, which was fully dedicated to the topic of association. To keep all relevant stakeholders up to date, we share the latest developments via the “Erasmus+ On The Road" newsletter, complemented by additional information on our website. We also aim to raise awareness of Erasmus+ among the general public through social media and by showcasing examples of good practice.

How will we be able to tell in a few years’ time that a return to the Erasmus+ programme has been a success?

It will be a success if there is a tangible impact and if broad support for Erasmus+ is evident among policymakers, the private sector and the higher education community in Switzerland. In addition, Swiss educational institutions should become significantly more visible within the European education landscape by taking on more coordination roles in Erasmus+ cooperation projects. Swiss project managers would also be widely recognised for their efficiency, competence and reliability. We would expect Switzerland’s international education network to have expanded considerably, potentially doubling in size compared to today. At the same time, transnational degree programmes, such as Erasmus Mundus Master’s programmes, should be more firmly established. 

We at Movetia are confident that this development is achievable. Wish us luck!

Thank you very much for the interview, Mr Tschopp.