Swiss Higher Education Institutions within European University Alliances: Strategies, Challenges and Impact

This paper examines how Swiss Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) engage with European University Alliances despite being excluded from Erasmus+. Drawing on the experience of the authors as practitioners, this paper examines the specific case of Switzerland and highlights the various pathways and strategies through which Swiss HEIs have become involved in alliances. The authors also explore whether—and in what ways—the Swiss policy and funding context shapes the form of Swiss participation in the European University Alliances. Findings show that most Swiss HEIs are active, turning the alliances into a vital “lifeline” that connects Switzerland to the broader European academic landscape and reinforces its attractiveness, inclusiveness and European identity.