The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) has ranked Switzerland number one in the world for innovation for the tenth consecutive year, according to its latest Global Innovation Index (GII) published this week. Switzerland, Sweden, U.S., U.K and Netherlands lead the innovation ranking, which ranks more than 130 nations. The biggest change in Switzerland’s score this […]
Vaud confirms plan for college reopening
The government of Vaud recently announced its plan for reopening college, known locally as gymnase. Compulsory school restarted across Switzerland on 11 May 2020. However, gymnase pupils, who are typically 15 or older, will have to wait until 8 June 2020 to return. Gymnase classes, which will start on 8 June and run until 3 […]
Recent research contradicts Swiss government view that children rarely transmit Covid-19
The Swiss government has decided to reopen schools on 11 May 2020. Behind the decision is a belief that children do not play a major role in transmission of the virus. Switzerland’s federal governments says children rarely fall ill, and when they do they present few to no symptoms and rarely transmit the virus. Speaking […]
Coronavirus: Swiss schools and other establishments set to reopen
On 29 April 2020, Switzerland’s government announced plans to allow schools and other establishments to reopen on Monday 11 May 2020. From 11 May 2020, shops, restaurants, markets, museums, libraries, primary and lower secondary schools and sports training centres will be allowed to reopen. In addition, public transport will operate according to the standard timetable, […]
Free online courses – stay home and learn
Here is a list of free online courses for anyone at a home-confinement loose end. 1) Free Online Courses from Massachusetts Institute of Technology 2) Microsoft Free Online Courses 2020 3) World Health Organisation Free Online Courses with Free Certificates 4) Harvard University Free Online Courses 2020 5) Free Online Course on how to be […]
Swiss fact: 44 Swiss municipalities have changed their official language since 1950
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, […]
