Language is a complicated matter in Switzerland. The nation has four official languages and numerous other languages and dialects. On top of this some Swiss have had to cope with shifting language borders. Between 1860 and 2000, 83 municipalities, known as communes (in French), Einwohnergemeinde1 (in German), comuni (in Italian) and vischnancas (in Romanche), changed their official […]
Why Switzerland ranked near the top of the 2019 global competitiveness ranking
Switzerland made the the top 5, after dropping from 4th to 5th, in this year’s World Economic Forum (WEF) Global Competitiveness Index. Switzerland’s decline was largely due to a down weighting of a factor where it is strong, according to WEF’s Saadia Zahidi. The Global Competitive Index measures performance in 114 areas that influence a […]
3 things you should know about learning French that most schools won’t tell you
Brought to you by Swiss French School. Most language schools won’t tell you these things for fear you will never start. However, unless you know these things up front you are likely to fail. 1. Learning takes a long time Most know this but teachers don’t like to discuss it. Let’s face it it’s not […]
Swiss upper house in favour of two weeks paternity leave
Recently, the Council of States, Switzerland’s upper house, voted 26 to 16 in favour of two weeks of paternity leave following the birth of a child, according to 20 Minutes. At the same time, the Council of States rejected the idea of four weeks of paternity leave by 29 to 14. Paternity leave has become […]
Swiss universities rise further in global ranking
A recent ranking placed two Swiss universities in the top 20. ETH Zurich (ETHZ), the Swiss university for science and technology based in Zurich rose from 7th to 6th place this year in the overall global ranking by QS. Ecole polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), ETHZ’s sister in French-speaking Switzerland near Lausanne, scooped 18th place, […]
Switzerland world’s 4th most competitive nation, according to business school ranking
Every year, Lausanne-based IMD business school publishes its global competitiveness ranking. Switzerland climbed from 5th last year to 4th behind Singapore, Hong Kong and the US. Venezuela (63rd) was last. The ranking, established in 1989, incorporates 235 indicators and takes into account a wide range of “hard” statistics such as unemployment, GDP and government spending […]
Geneva considers changing school holiday calendar
Geneva’s education authority is considering changing the canton’s school holiday calendar. The holidays under discussion are Easter, the long weekend of Ascension and the summer break. Proposed changes would extend the Easter break from one to two weeks, make the Friday following Ascension – Thursday 30 May 2019 this year – a school holiday and […]
Swiss government agrees on bigger tax deductions for childcare
Switzerland’s parliament recently decided to increase the amount of childcare costs that can be deducted from taxable income. Parliament voted 131 to 48, with 14 abstentions, to increase the maximum annual childcare deduction from CHF 10,100 per child to CHF 25,000 when calculating federal taxes, according to RTS. Childcare in Switzerland is expensive. According to […]
Global Geneva launches young journalists and writers competition
The Geneva-based magazine Global Geneva is running a writing competition for young writers (14 to 19 year olds). A total of 2,450 francs of prize money will be awarded to the best entries – 1st 1,200 francs, 2nd 750 francs, 3rd 500 francs. To enter, write a compelling article or short story (1,000 words) on […]
Poor air quality in two thirds of Swiss classrooms
A recent study by Switzerland’s Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH) estimates that the air quality in two thirds of Swiss classrooms is inadequate. The main problem is the build up of CO2. High CO2 concentration affects the concentration of those in the room. It can also provoke head aches and lethargy. The study, which […]
