International initiatives
UNIL is a member of the CIVIS Alliance, an European university offering a wide range of opportunities to its members. UNIL teaching staff can call on the Cellule CIVIS to be put in contact with other members of the Alliance, to benefit from funding, and to develop teaching, research and joint training projects.
UNIL's international strategy advocates setting up privileged partnerships with a limited number of universities. These are stronger agreements that enable close cooperation with regard to teaching, research and governance. Joint calls for projects are organised with some partners. An e-mail is sent to all UNIL teaching staff when a call is published.
The International Relations Office offers administrative and financial support for mobility opportunities for teaching staff, PhD and other students under signed exchange agreements. Please contact the office if you would like to set up an exchange programme with a foreign university.
The Swiss national agency Movetia is publishing calls for collaborative projects with a particular focus on non-European countries until 2020. An e-mail is sent to all UNIL teaching staff when a call is published. The International Relations Office can offer advice on submitting projects.
Instruments
- Intensive programmes: short training courses organised jointly by at least two higher-education institutions
- ‘Carte blanche’ projects: creation and testing of innovative models in relation to international cooperation and mobility
Switzerland participates in the Erasmus+ programme as a Partner Country and can therefore participate in certain Erasmus+ activities available in Switzerland. The International Relations Office can offer advice on submitting projects.
The summer and winter schools organised by UNIL offer a real international development opportunity for universities and are supported by the International Relations Office, subject to the availability of funds.
Projects are selected for support based on a call for projects, sent out by e-mail to all teaching staff.
The International Relations Office offers teaching staff help with setting up the schools, along with logistical and administrative assistance before, during and after the programme. The personalised help available includes budgeting, administrative and logistical management, support with communications and assistance with programme supervision.
UNIL is a member of Scholars at Risk (SAR), an international network of universities that aims to protect academics who are under threat, prevent attacks on the scientific community and promote academic freedom around the world.
Scholars at Risk protects academics whose life, liberty and well-being are threatened, in particular by finding temporary posts in the network’s member institutions. The network also offers advice for host institutions and academics, including those who are being threatened or have been forced into exile and need to rebuild their lives abroad. UNIL is also part of the Swiss section of Scholars at Risk.
UNIL professors who are interested in welcoming an individual in danger should contact Mattias Buess.
The joint thesis supervision programme aims to increase academic cooperation by encouraging PhD students to move between countries. PhD students on a joint supervision programme carry out their research under the joint responsibility of two supervisors (one at UNIL and one in an institution abroad). While they only sit one viva, they are awarded two qualifications, one from UNIL and one from the partner institution. Joint supervision involves signing an agreement and enrolling in both institutions.