Dear Members of the UNIGE community,
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The start of this academic year confirms a very encouraging trend for our university, especially reflected in the continued growth in student enrollment at UNIGE. This year, we welcomed approximately 18,700 students, up nearly 2,5% over last year. 63% of these students are women, compared to a national average of 52%, a clear reflection of the diversity of our community and our commitment to equality. The continuing rise in enrollment numbers confirms the attractiveness of UNIGE and the trust that students place in our institution.
This dynamic also means we face a serious responsibility. Welcoming more students means continuing to offer them a high-quality learning environment while also preserving the conditions required for the research and work of the entire UNIGE community. This commitment is particularly important in a context of constrained budgets, which encourages us to make careful choices and to make the best possible use of the resources available to us.
Recent research successes at UNIGE also illustrate the vitality of our institution. Three UNIGE projects received ERC Starting Grants, and four of our researchers earned prestigious ERC Advanced Grants, altogether representing nearly 17 million euros in European research funding. Additionally, seven projects were selected for funding under the Swiss National Science Foundation's Ambizione programme. More than just individual distinctions, these results testify to the quality and competitiveness of our research.
Furthermore, seven projects in which UNIGE is involved have been proposed for the Swiss Roadmap for Research Infrastructures, one of the primary instruments for the planning of research infrastructure in our country. They are still being evaluated, but their inclusion already demonstrates our ability to contribute to major scientific projects shaping Switzerland's research landscape, covering fields as diverse as health, environmental sciences, fundamental physics, and the humanities and social sciences.
On the European level, UNIGE continues to develop collaborations with our seven partner universities in the 4EU+ Alliance, which I have the honour and pleasure of chairing this year; this provides access for members of our community to highly stimulating possibilities for collaborative research and academic exchanges, notably through the SEED4EU+ program and visiting professorships. UNIGE has also obtained the Erasmus Charter for Higher Education (ECHE), another step towards membership in Erasmus+. These instruments reflect a conviction that I deem essential: major scientific and societal challenges are best understood and addressed through dialogue across disciplines and borders.
That same spirit of openness is also behind the evolution of this Rectorate newsletter. It is now addressed to the entire university community, including our students. It is important to me that each of you know more about the projects, the successes, the prospects, and also the challenges that shape our University. Better sharing information encourages dialogue, reinforces transparency, and makes it possible for each of us to fully take part in the life of our institution.
An attractive, renowned university is not only built on its numbers or its successes: it is built day by day by those who study here, teach here, bring the institution to life, challenge it, and help it move forward.
Audrey Leuba
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Cantonal Budget Cuts: What Are the Consequences for UNIGE?
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On 17 September, the Council of State presented its 2027 budget, which calls for significant budget cuts. This announcement, expected for several months, aims to reduce expenditures by the State of Geneva by 247,7 million francs. Certain measures directly impact the University of Geneva. The proposal must now be examined by the Grand Council's finance commission, which will make its recommendation before the final vote of the plenum, planned for December 2026.
These announcements are a cause for concern and represent a significant challenge for the University. These measures come on top of cuts already announced by the Confederation for 2027, further exacerbating an already strained budgetary context. Taken together, these different measures mean that the University of Geneva is looking at a reduction in resources of some 20 million francs starting in 2027.
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| ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE |
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Road to Geneva: UNIGE prepares for the 2027 AI Summit
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On 21 and 22 June 2027, Switzerland will host the Global Summit on AI in Geneva, the fifth international summit dedicated to artificial intelligence governance. Drawing on the diversity of its disciplines, UNIGE will actively contribute to the Summit by bringing the voice of research to discussions on the place of humans in the development of AI and its impact on people, law, health, work and institutions. The University will propose topics for the official programme and organise a parallel festival featuring debates, exhibitions and workshops. In the lead-up to the Summit, a series of Road to Geneva events will take place throughout the year. Is your service or research team organising an event related to artificial intelligence between now and June 2027? Submit your project to receive the “Road to Geneva” label and be featured on the Summit’s official website. A call for proposals for activities organised at UNIGE alongside the Summit will be launched in the coming months.
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Course Evaluations Made Simpler and More Effective
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Starting this autumn, EEEasy, the new course evaluation platform developed in-house by the Teaching and Learning Support Unit (SEA), will replace the previous system. The aim is to make it easier for students to participate and to provide more effective support for the development of teaching practices.
For students, the questionnaires are designed to be shorter (taking less than five minutes to complete), focusing on three key areas – teaching, learning and student-teacher interaction – while also allowing for open-ended comments. This streamlined approach aims to encourage broader participation and more relevant feedback, while ensuring that students’ views are genuinely taken into account in improving teaching.
For teaching staff, a centralised dashboard provides an overview of their evaluations. Programme coordinators, management teams and faculty deans have continuous access to results within their respective areas, while teaching staff can share the improvements they plan to make, helping to foster dialogue with students.
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Despite a slight decrease of 0.9 points compared with 2025, the University of Geneva ranks among the top 13% of universities participating in the Times Higher Education (THE) Impact Rankings and is the highest-ranked university in Switzerland, with an overall score of 80.4 out of 100. This international ranking assesses universities’ contributions to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through their research, teaching, institutional operations and engagement with society.
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areas of excellence for UNIGE. With scores of 85/100 for Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure, 76/100 for Good Health and Well-being, and 73/100 for Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions, UNIGE ranks among the top-performing universities in these areas.
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The combined score across all 17 SDGs has increased by more than 50 points this year.
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SDGs rank in the 101–200 range (top 9%), further demonstrating the University’s commitment to sustainable development.
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Workshops to get your Semester Assignments off to a Good Start
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Citing sources without plagiarising, mastering research tools, finding reliable sources or using AI appropriately for academic research: the Library is offering four practical workshops from 12 to 16 October to help students with their academic assignments. At the end of the semester, these sessions will also be offered as part of the “Boost your exam preparation” week.
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New Leadership for the Human Resources Division
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Maria Vittoria Romano took up her position as Director of the University of Geneva’s Human Resources Division on 1 September 2026. Before joining UNIGE, she gained more than thirty years of experience in human resources, management and change management, including nearly seventeen years at the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). She joined UNIGE in 2013 as an HR Sector Manager and was appointed Deputy Director of Human Resources in 2023, contributing to the harmonisation of HR practices and the development of the University’s strategy. She twice served as interim Director of the Division, first in 2024 and again from January 2026.
As HR Director, her role is to continue developing and implementing the University’s HR strategy, support the Rectorate and University entities in addressing people-related and organisational challenges, and pursue the modernisation of the HR function, while fostering an inclusive working environment and helping to prevent psychosocial risks.
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- Want to run in your University’s colours? Join the UNIGE team for the 48th edition of the Course de l’Escalade and receive a free T-shirt. Register by 15 November >>
- Drop off your unused mobile phones, tablets and chargers at the reception desks in University buildings. This collection scheme allows 70% of devices to be refurbished, while the remainder are recycled. Recycle >>
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- This October, UNIGE is taking part in the Academic Bike Challenge: team up with colleagues and sign up to cycle as many kilometres as possible. Also on the programme: bike repair stands, a bike light initiative ahead of winter, and refresher cycling courses. Take part >>
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- UNIGE has received the 2026 Training Company Award in the Health and Social Care category, recognising the quality of its support for apprentices and its commitment to developing the next generation of professionals. The award will be presented in early December. Find out more >>
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- The Human Resources Division is offering information sessions on preparing for retirement (reference retirement age, early retirement, retirement capital, OASI contributions and post-retirement activities at Uni3). Register >>
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