Luisa Lambertini, the Rector of Università della Svizzera italiana (USI), appeared as a guest on the programme 60 Minuti (RSI) to discuss the significant budget cuts to universities announced by the Swiss Confederation. During the episode, there was a focused discussion on the risks associated with these cuts and the role of private funding in universities.
USI is projected to receive 6.5 million francs less from the Confederation. As USI Rector Luisa Lambertini expressed, these financial cuts raise concerns: "As the Rector, I am understandably concerned about this situation. Additionally, as a citizen, I am worried because the cuts imposed by the Confederation will lead to a decline in the quality of education and research at USI. We have prioritised quality in both areas for many years, as they are central to our mission. This commitment allows us to attract international talents who come to teach and provide an excellent education to our students, enabling them to find employment in the region."
Will USI still be able to guarantee what it has offered up to now, even with a reduction in funds? "With cuts of 6.5 million, it is not feasible to simply reorganise the remaining resources and redistribute them without making cuts. Swiss universities are already well-structured, and among them, USI has the smallest central services relative to its overall size. Therefore, making minor adjustments or seeking greater efficiency will not suffice. While we will attempt to improve our processes, these substantial cuts will undoubtedly impact our core activities: education, research, and our third mandate," explained the Rector.
The budget cuts were unexpected, and they surprised universities, as confirmed by Luisa Lambertini: "Switzerland has always been forward-thinking, recognising that investment in education and research is essential for fostering innovation. According to statistics, this commitment has positioned Switzerland as one of the most innovative countries in the world. However, these foundational choices are now being questioned, as it has become evident that the importance of education and research for improving quality of life has been overlooked."
Rector Luisa Lambertini reflected on the factors undermining university education, noting that we are currently facing a challenging situation from multiple perspectives: "There have been two significant crises about ten years apart, and the economic situation has certainly not been the easiest. It is essential to recognise that Switzerland’s human capital and research are key factors in improving the country’s situation and, subsequently, the overall quality of life. Investing in these areas is a genuine investment that can yield returns over the years. While we are currently facing challenging times, halting investments in these crucial aspects now would lead to consequences in the future."
To face this hardship, USI has quickly developed a strategy: "We will certainly have to try to become more efficient by reducing certain types of expenses. At the same time, we will enhance our efforts to seek third-party funding. Additionally, we need to prioritise our use of funds, emphasising activities that have a greater impact on the local community and those that help us maintain the level of excellence we have achieved." As emphasised by the Rector, the link with the region will be central in choosing the investments to be prioritised.
Another aspect highlighted by Rector Luisa Lambertini is the role of private individuals in financing new chairs within universities, a growing trend not only at USI: "On 1 October 2024, the first Daccò chair was established at USI, assigned to Professor Lonneke van der Plas, who works on Natural Language Processing, for which we thank the Aldo and Cele Daccò Foundation. We also have a second chair, funded by the same foundation, which is about to start. We are currently in negotiations with the person selected to fill it."
The existence of funded chairs at universities prompts a discussion about the actual freedom of teaching and the potential influence of funding organisations. "This is a delicate and important subject," said Luisa Lambertini. "Donations from companies and businesses that act for profit must be evaluated very carefully. Swiss universities, as is the case in other countries, have very clear regulations and directives that guarantee independence from the funds received. The donor provides funds, whether a private individual or a company. Still, the choice of professor, academic freedom and research and teaching results remain in the university’s hands."
Despite these critical elements, as emphasised by the Rector of USI, the choice to turn to private individuals seems to be indirectly suggested by the Confederation itself through its partial disengagement from higher education. "It is also a push to establish regulations that facilitate private investment. We need regulations that allow for all these possibilities so that they can become an investment for the future."
However, according to Luisa Lambertini, it is impossible to imagine a future in which research and university education are entirely privately funded: "Lobby groups and companies typically do not invest in basic research, such as mathematics or physics. However, this fundamental research is essential because it forms the foundation for applied research, ultimately leading to the innovations and discoveries we rely on daily."
Ceasing investment in universities poses a significant risk for Switzerland, as it may undermine the country’s standing on the international stage: "Swiss universities rank among the best globally and attract some of the brightest minds. If this tradition were to be disrupted, it could lead to a brain drain on an international scale, causing our top students to leave Switzerland to study abroad at more competitive institutions that have greater funding," concluded the Rector.
University cuts: Rector Luisa Lambertini’s reflections
