The Signatory Cantons to this Convention,

considering Article 4 of the Intercantonal Agreement on Universities of 20 February 1997,
concluded for the purposes of strengthening cooperation between the Cantons and the Federal Government,

hereby decree:
 

Section 1: General Provisions

Article 1 Scope

1. The Signatory Cantons to this Convention (hereinafter: the Signatory Cantons) desire to pursue a coordinated university policy on the national level, to promote quality university education and research. To this end, they shall collaborate, on one hand with each other and on the other hand with the Federal Government.
2. To promote quality education and research, they shall encourage:
1. the creation of higher education networks and centres of competence;
2. competition between universities;
3. the creation of conditions conducive to international cooperation in matters relating to universities;
4. the transfer of knowledge in research.

Art. 2 Definitions

1. The term "universities" for the purpose of the present Convention shall be understood to mean universities, within the meaning of Art. 3(1) UFG/LAU, and universities of applied science.
2. University Cantons shall be understood to mean cantons which bear the principal responsibility for a university recognised as being entitled to a federal grant under the Federal Law on Financial Aid to Universities (UFG/LAU) of 8 October 1999.

  
Art. 3 Cooperation between Universities

1. Universities shall establish the coordination and collaboration infrastructures required to implement decisions of the Swiss University Conference in accordance with Art. 5 below.
2. Subject to the powers of the Swiss University Conference stipulated in Art. 5 below, universities and cantonal public authorities shall retain the power to take measures act in respect of coordination and cooperation.

Section 2: Organisation

Art. 4 Swiss University Conference

1. The Federal Government and Signatory Cantons may, on the basis of a cooperation agreement, create a joint body (the Swiss University Conference) responsible for coordinating university policy throughout Switzerland between the Federal Government (including matters relating to the Federal Institutes of Technology [ETH/EPF]) and the cantons. The Signatory Cantons shall empower their respective governments to enter into such an agreement.
2. The Swiss University Conference shall be composed of:
1. two representatives of the Federal Government;
2. one representative of each of the Signatory Cantons;
3. two representatives of the non-university cantons.
3. The Signatory Cantons shall assume up to 50 percent of the expenses of the Swiss University Conference.
4. The cooperation agreement shall establish regulations governing the Swiss University Conference.
   

Art. 5 Powers

1. The cooperation agreement may invest the Swiss University Conference with the following powers and duties:
1. to issue directives on the normal length of studies, recognition of previous studies, and qualifications, which shall be binding on all parties concerned;
2. to award project-specific grants, within the meaning of the Federal Law on Financial Aid to Universities of 8 October 1999;
3. periodically to assess the distribution of national research centres with respect to the nationwide division of activities among universities;
4.  to recognise higher education institutions and diploma programmes;
5. to issue directives on evaluating teaching and research;
6. to issue directives on knowledge the transfer of knowledge in research.
2. The Swiss University Conference shall submit recommendations to the Federal Government and University Cantons on cooperation, long-term planning and the equitable distribution of activities in the university sphere.
   

Art. 6 Decisions

1. Each member of the Swiss University Conference shall have the right to one vote.
2. Decisions within the meaning of Article 5(1) (a) and (c) to (f) shall require the approval of a qualified majority of two-thirds of the votes of all the members. Moreover, for decisions to be valid the members of the Swiss University Conference approving such decisions must also represent over half of the students registered at the universities represented by the Swiss University Conference.
3. Decisions within the meaning of Art. 5(1)(b) shall require the approval of a simple majority of all the members. Moreover, they shall require the approval of members contributing financially to the projects.
4. Other decisions shall require the approval of a simple majority of all the members. In case of an equality of votes, the president shall have the casting vote.

 
Art. 7 Accreditation and Quality Assurance

1. The Federal Government, Signatory Cantons and universities shall provide for and develop quality education and research.
2. To this end, the Signatory Cantons shall empower their respective governments to create, with the Federal Government, an independent body which shall perform the following tasks on behalf of the Swiss University Conference:
1. define quality assurance requirements and regularly check compliance;
2. prepare proposals with a view to setting up a nationwide accreditation procedure for higher education institutions wishing to obtain such accreditation either for themselves, or for their diploma programmes;
3. verify accreditation procedures to ensure compliance with directives issued by the Swiss University Conference.
3. The cooperation agreement shall establish technical procedures, in particular, in respect of organisation and financing.
4. The Signatory Cantons shall bear up to 50% of the costs of supervising quality assurance and accreditation procedures for grant entitlement.
   

Art. 8 Cooperation with the Joint Body of University Rectors

1. The Swiss University Conference shall collaborate with the joint body of university rectors.
2. It may instruct the joint body of university rectors to prepare and implement its decisions. Costs arising in this respect shall be covered by the budget of the Swiss University Conference. The cooperation agreement shall regulate the terms.
   

 
Art. 9 Collaboration with National Authorities and Bodies Concerned with Universities of Applied Science

The Swiss University Conference shall collaborate with national authorities and bodies concerned with universities of applied science.
 

Art. 10 Consultation

1. The Swiss University Conference shall consult interested parties on important questions of Swiss university policy, in particular:
1. university rectors;
2. university professors, teaching assistants and students;
3. representative bodies of the economy.

Section 3: Final Provisions

 
Art. 11 Accession to the Convention

1. Any University Canton may accede to the present Convention.
2. Accession shall be communicated to the general secretariat of the Swiss Conference of Cantonal Ministers of Education.

 
Art. 12 Minimum Number of Signatory Cantons

The present Convention shall only enter into force when signed by following the accession of over one half of the University Cantons. It shall remain in force provided that the minimum number of Signatory Cantons is attained.
 

Art. 13 Implementation

1. The governments of Signatory Cantons shall be charged with implementing this Convention. In particular, they shall be charged with concluding a cooperation agreement, within the meaning of the present Convention, with the Federal Council, which shall incorporate the Federal Institutes of Technology.
2. If the cooperation agreement cannot be concluded or becomes null and void, the Signatory Cantons shall implement the necessary measures to ensure coordination of their university policy.

 
Art. 14 Termination

This Convention may be terminated upon three years’ notice effective for the end of a calendar year.
 

Bern, 9 December 1999
 
Council of the Swiss University Conference
 
President: Macheret
Secretary-General: Ischi