A Word from the Rector

Published on 1st of April 2026. 

I wish to share with you a completely transparent update on our finances and on the path forward we are setting for our institution. This is a difficult moment that calls for clarity and unified efforts.

A nuanced understanding of our financial situation is required. Taking into account all of our activities and sources of funding, the University posted a consolidated positive result of approximately 49 million francs for 2025, buoyed significantly by the strong performance of our investment portfolio and by major contributions, notably those related to the Fondation pour l’Université de Genève (FUNIGE).

For the same period, the activities funded by the public authorities — which make up the core of our day-to-day operations — showed an operating deficit of 10 million francs. This discrepancy may seem paradoxical, but the explanation is straightforward: not all of the University’s resources can be freely used to cover operating expenses, as some are earmarked for specific projects or for long-term investments.

That is why efforts must be focused on our “State-funded” operating budget. Projections show that this deficit could still be 5 million francs in 2027 if no additional measures are taken. We are committed to restoring the balance in that time frame. This requires targeted and lasting savings. The Rectorate is prioritising structural adaptations — pooling services and simplifying processes — rather than across-the-board reductions that would indiscriminately weaken all sectors. This effort is indispensable to preserve our ability to act over the long term.

At the same time, it is essential to underscore that this period of austerity does not call into question our ambition. Resources stemming from FUNIGE, and the strong performance of our portfolio, allow us to continue to invest in research projects with strong potential.  The Chaires d'excellence programme offering chaired professorships for outstanding resarchers also reinforces the ability of our institution to attract top-tier talents in strategic fields.

We are traversing a particular period that presents both constraints and opportunities. We must keep spending under control where necessary while continuing to build on our strengths, prepare for the future with the required rigour, and move forward with ambition.

The strength of the University of Geneva is based on that balance: rigorous management today to sustainably preserve our capacity for action tomorrow. We will meet this challenge through the commitment of each and every one of us.

Audrey Leuba