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A recent Movetia survey of 50 completed higher education projects shows that international cooperation continues to generate value well after official funding has ended, with lasting effects for institutions, individuals, and society. The projects examined areas such as digitalisation, pedagogy, sustainability, and intercultural learning, and involved Swiss universities, universities of applied sciences, and teacher education institutions.
The survey highlights immediate outcomes such as:
Beyond these immediate results, the survey shows a wide range of longer-term impacts. Institutions have used cooperation projects to create or revise courses and programmes, integrate international perspectives into curricula, and develop new research areas. They also report strengthened capacity through digitalisation, new pedagogical approaches and staff training, with innovation in teaching and research practices becoming more firmly embedded.
At the same time, participants benefited from competence development, while students and staff gained intercultural awareness, civic and transversal skills, and new professional competences with direct career relevance. Many projects also built networks that extend beyond academia, engaging NGOs, local communities, and international partners. These links support broader agendas in sustainability, equality, and public engagement.
Looking ahead, participants expect that impacts will continue to grow, with adjustments to their higher education courses and curricula, spin-offs and follow-up projects , and global networks expanding. To achieve this, the survey highlights the importance of consistent project goals, stronger institutional backing, long-term funding, systematic monitoring, and platforms to share results, alongside a sharper focus on environmental and equity issues.
Read the full report here.