Two days to discuss the challenges of the university system and university governance
Some 50 researchers from Switzerland and several European countries will gather in Lugano on 6 and 7 October to discuss the many challenges that the future of the higher education system is facing. It is the fourth workshop organised by REHES (Research on Higher Education and Science in Switzerland). After the Universities of Bern and Lausanne and the Zurich University of Applied Sciences in Winterthur, it will be hosted by the Institute of Communication and Public Policy at Universitą della Svizzera italiana. We spoke about it with Benedetto Lepori, adjunct professor at the Faculty of Communication, Culture and Society and director of the research group on research policy and universities. What are the goals of the Research on Higher Education and Science in Switzerland? The Swiss Research Network on Higher Education and Science (REHES) is coordinated by the University of Zurich. It brings together some 50 researchers active in Swiss higher education and science studies. It is a small community that deals with issues of great political and social relevance, such as the management of the university system, the effectiveness of higher education and research, and the governance of universities. These are issues at the core of international academic and policy debate, yet with some exceptions, Swiss research in these areas is poorly structured and has little global visibility. REHES aims to improve this situation by fostering collaboration and exchange among Swiss research groups, running a series of publications and organising annual encounters. The fourth in the series, held in Lugano this week, will bring together some 50 researchers from Switzerland and several European countries who will present their research on universities, society and academic careers. What are the most critical challenges that will be discussed at this meeting?
