October 1, 2025|
AI
|2 months agoNationwide Student Protests Challenge Education Budget Cuts
Swiss students stage coordinated demonstrations across major cities, submitting 35,000-signature petition against planned education funding reductions
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Generated IllustrationKey Takeaways
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- Swiss students staged coordinated demonstrations across major cities including Bern, Zurich, Basel, Lucerne, Lausanne, Geneva, and Neuchâtel on October 1, 2025.
- A petition containing 35,000 signatures was submitted to the Federal Chancellery in Bern.
- The Canton of Vaud's 2026 budget proposes savings of approximately CHF 20 million for the University of Lausanne (UNIL).
- The proposed cuts at UNIL represent a 7% reduction in the university's budget.
- Approximately 700 people demonstrated in Zurich following a call from the SSP union and student associations.
By The Numbers
35,000
signatures
700
protesters
CHF 20 million
budget reduction
7%
budget decrease
They Said
"A weakening of research, a deterioration in the quality of teaching and a decline in UNILâs reputation in Switzerland and beyond."
"Guarantee funding that is equal to the challenges, for the future of UNIL and the community."