Dear members of the university community,
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The recent G7 summit in Evian-les-Bains raised serious and legitimate questions regarding the multiple crises - ecological, geopolitical, socioeconomic, and public health - with which our societies are confronted. These reflections and debates around global governance are beneficial. They also circulate through our community, which enriches them with new perspectives. They should not, however, be reduced to just the security challenges which, while of course very important, occluded the underlying issues in the media.
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Reorganisation of the Rectorate: International Relations redistributed
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After 23 years of service to the University of Geneva, including eight as Vice-Rector for International and Interinstitutional Relations, Stéphane Berthet will retire at the end of July. His departure is accompanied by a reorganisation of the activities currently falling within his portfolio. Responsibility for International Relations will be assumed by the Rector, in close coordination with Vice-Rector Martine Collart and Vice-Rector Sébastien Castelltort. Representation within partner organisations and networks will be shared among members of the Rectorate according to their respective areas of responsibility.
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Two new Deans appointed to lead the Faculties of Social Sciences and Law
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As of 15 July 2026, Jean-Michel Bonvin will become Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences (SDS), while Alexandre Flückiger will assume the deanship of the Faculty of Law for a four-year term.
Jean-Michel Bonvin holds a PhD in Sociology from Sorbonne University and is Full Professor of Social Policy and Vulnerability at the University of Geneva. He serves on the steering committees of numerous research projects and has contributed to several European programmes. As Dean, he aims to enhance the visibility of the Faculty’s research and its contribution to public debate, maintain an attractive environment for the academic staff, attract more students, and prepare the Faculty’s move to the future Quai Vernets building.
Alexandre Flückiger holds a PhD in Law from the University of Lausanne and is Full Professor at the University of Geneva. He has held several leadership positions within the Faculty, including Vice-Dean and Head of the Department of Public Law. His priorities include strengthening the attractiveness of the Faculty’s programmes and supporting the transformations affecting teaching, research and the legal profession, particularly through the development of new practices related to artificial intelligence. He also aims to increase the Faculty’s contribution to and visibility in scientific, institutional and public debates.
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Entry into force of the Directive on the implementation of the State Secularism Act
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The Rectorate has adopted a new Directive on the wearing of religious symbols, which has now entered into force. The Directive clarifies the application of the State Secularism Act (LLE) within the university context. It responds to the need to establish a clearer framework for this sensitive issue, ensuring consistent treatment across the institution while taking into account the specific realities of university life. Following a legal opinion, the Rectorate held extensive consultations with the University's participatory and advisory bodies. These discussions helped take into account a broad range of perspectives and gain a better understanding of the practical situations and established practices within the University community.
The Directive provides, in particular, that for individuals who hold both student and State employee status, including doctoral candidates, student status takes precedence. Doctoral teaching and research assistants, research and teaching assistants, and other students employed in auxiliary positions may therefore display religious symbols at all times. The same applies to members of staff when they are not representing the University, are working in staff-only areas, or are participating in deliberative bodies or in association, advocacy or trade union activities. Transitional arrangements have been put in place, and the Directive will be reviewed after one year of implementation.
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continuing education programmes were delivered in 2025, including 229 award-bearing programmes (COS, CAS, DAS, MAS and DAPS) and 171 short courses (training sessions, study days and conferences)
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participants attended continuing education programmes in 2025, including 4,235 enrolled in award-bearing programmes and 4,433 in short courses
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micro-credentials offered in 2025
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micro-credentials awarded in 2025
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G'Evolue: Reform of the job evaluation and pay system reaches a new milestone
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After more than three years of work, the G'Evolue Joint Technical Evaluation Commission (CETP) has submitted a proposal for a new pay scale to the Geneva State Council, marking an important milestone in the reform of the State of Geneva's job evaluation and remuneration system. The project aims to replace the current framework with a system that is more transparent, consistent and better aligned with the evolving nature of jobs. The reform is now entering a new phase, with draft legislation expected to be submitted to the Grand Council. The new system is scheduled to come into force in 2028.
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The 4EU+ Alliance has launched two funding opportunities to foster collaboration across its academic community. SEED4EU+ supports interdisciplinary research projects (up to €40,000 for one year), while Visiting Professorships fund short-term research and/or teaching visits (3–6 weeks). Both schemes offer Early Career and Standard funding lines. The application deadline is 13 October 2026. An online information session will take place on 3 September 2026. Discover the calls and eligibility criteria on the 4EU+ website.
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2026 University Teaching Award winners
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The winners of the 2026 University Teaching Award have successfully reimagined the student learning experience at the University of Geneva. This year's three winning projects stand out for their innovative use of playful, creative and participatory approaches to teaching and learning.
The first prize goes to Florie Bresteaux (Faculty of Social Sciences) for Escape Game Géographique, a project in which students design an escape game to explore and master key concepts in geography. The second prize goes to Doris Forster (Faculty of Law) for Bringing Roman Law to Life, a project that reinvents the teaching of Roman law through a creative competition in which students develop practical case studies. The best submissions are then incorporated into the illustrated course handbook developed for the course. The third prize goes to Laurence Schumacher (Faculty of Science) for Schmout your brain, a serious game that helps students learn to identify chemical toxidromes and their corresponding antidotes.
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Open Access: A new agreement with Springer Nature
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After several months of negotiations, swissuniversities and Springer Nature have concluded a new Read & Publish agreement for the period 2026–2029, marking a major milestone in the implementation of Switzerland's national Open Access strategy. The agreement provides the UNIGE/HUG community with reading access to the vast majority of Springer Nature journals and enables Open Access publication at no additional cost in nearly 2,700 hybrid and gold journals, subject to the agreement's terms and national quotas. It also authorises the use of artificial intelligence (AI) tools to analyse publications, excluding model training and content redistribution. Articles accepted in hybrid journals at the beginning of 2026 will be progressively converted to Open Access, with no reimbursement of publication fees already paid.
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- Develop your digital skills with MakeITeasy: assess your digital profile with a self-assessment tool and gain access to more than 90 training courses (online, in person or in a hybrid format). Assess your digital skills >>
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- Take advantage of the summer to watch or rewatch UNIGE lectures and conferences. Watch now >>
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