HES-SO - International - Haute école

HES-SO is a central part of Western Switzerland's development, and we work hard to leverage our region's linguistic and cultural diversity. This is also what drives us to expand our international reach.

As a higher education institution, our aim is to forge international synergies that enhance the quality of our teaching by combining a hands-on approach with applied research, in the fields of science, social work, technology and the arts – our core areas of expertise. We are committed to fostering societal development and sharing our knowledge and experience with partner organisations across Europe and beyond, with a view to strengthening social inclusion and mobility.

Aims of our international strategy

Make expanding HES-SO's international reach a responsibility shared by all our schools and faculties
Encourage students to strive for excellence through international exchange programmes
Ensure that the quality of HES-SO degrees is internationally recognised
Add a cross-disciplinary component to all HES-SO projects and initiatives
Enhance our teachers' R&D work by encouraging them to collaborate with other experts in Switzerland, Europe and further afield
Maintain and strengthen HES-SO strategic partnerships through international collaboration

Our international reach

We expand our international reach by working in partnership with more than 900 institutions to provide students with exchange programmes in a range of countries. This means we also have large numbers of international and exchange students coming to us from across Europe and beyond. In addition, we are actively involved in international networks and associations, as well as in international research and training initiatives.

All members of our community are involved in enhancing HES-SO's international standing. Our schools offer exchange programmes for both students and teachers, in cooperation with partner universities around the world. They also work with our faculties to run specific internationally oriented teaching and research projects. The central services within the Rector's Office set out the regulatory framework for international projects, support initiatives run by the HES-SO community and represent HES-SO nationally and internationally.