FHNW is one of Switzerland’s leading universities of applied sciences and arts, actively involved in teaching, research, continuing education and service provision – both innovative and practice-oriented.
Portrait
Teaching and research in tune with the times
The FHNW fulfils a four-fold mandate. It consists of teaching, continuing education, applied research and development and services.
The FHNW forms experts in their fields who are in high demand and shape their area of expertise. It offers degree programmes and continuing education programmes that are oriented towards the practice and provide cutting-edge knowledge in their topics.
In research and services, FHNW collaborates closely with partners from business and society. It is regionally anchored and closely connected to real-world challenges. FHNW therefore plays an important role, shaping society and the economy.
FHNW takes its special responsibility seriously. It aims to contribute decisively in tackling societal problems and co-shaping social change. Its strategic action fields New Work, Zero Emission and Future Health provide solutions for current issues.
Facts & Figures
Diverse and multidisciplinary
The ten schools of the FHNW cover a broad spectrum of subjects and enable diverse, multidisciplinary research. The skills of the lecturers and researchers, the excellent infrastructure and the regional, national and international network of the FHNW offer excellent conditions for addressing manifold issues from the worlds of science, business, politics, culture and society.
A campus culture promoting innovation
the FHNW is an inspirational place of encounter and effective interaction. It sees itself as a presence-based university that consciously relates teaching, research and real-world practice to each other and links them. Presence is manifested in the interaction of people and is expressed through the excellently equipped campus as well as in the virtual realm.
International orientation
People from more than 60 countries work and study at the FHNW. The FHNW benefits from this diversity and prepares its students for the challenges posed by a globalised economy and society. The FHNW's international activity includes partnerships with international universities and institutions, involvement in European research programmes and offering tri-national and multi-language degree programmes.
Attractive employer
The FHNW is an attractive, competitive, sustainable and diversity-friendly employer. The staff – the backbone of the FHNW – ensure the quality of its offerings. The FHNW, therefore, attaches importance to the careful selection and continuous professional development of its staff. The varied work environment enables employees a high degree of independence and promotes a culture of responsibility.
Quality management strategy
The quality management strategy (PDF, German) forms the basis for implementing the quality management system at FHNW. It is the strategic reference framework for the targets and the common understanding and culture of quality of the ten schools. It is therefore the basis for operationalising the quality management system at FHNW.
20 years of FHNW
In 2026, the FHNW celebrates its twentieth anniversary – a milestone that marks twenty years of innovation.
Organisation
The FHNW is an intercantonal public institute with its own legal entity and the right of self-administration within the framework of the state treaty of 27 October/9 November 2004 and the respective four-year mandate.
Ownership
The FHNW is owned by the four operating cantons Aargau, Basel-Landschaft, Basel-Stadt and Solothurn. These each govern the FHNW with a four-year mandate. The interfaces between the FHNW and the operators are the Interparliamentary Commission (IPK) and the Government Committee, which consists of the four Directors of Education of the operating cantons.
Government Committee / School Coordination Team (KOSTA)
The Government Committee is the interface between the University of Applied Sciences and the operating cantons. It is made up of the four Directors of Education of the operating cantons and prepares all of the operations that are decided on by the governments or parliaments.
- Dr. Simon Aeberhard (BS, Chairman)
- Olivier Dinichert (AG)
- Dr. Alban Frei (BL)
- Roger Swifcz (SO)
Dr. Simon Aeberhard, simon.aeberhard@bs.ch
Governance
The strategic governing body of the FHNW is the University Board, which is selected by the governments of the operating cantons. Operationally, the FHNW is governed by the Presidium of the Board of Directors and the Board of Directors.
The parliaments of the four operating cantons are responsible for the overall supervision of the FHNW. These deploy an Interparliamentary Commission (IPK). The four cantonal governments are jointly responsible for supervision of the FHNW; their operations are prepared by the Government Committee/the four Directors of Education. Financial supervision is the responsibility of the Financial Control Departments of the cantons party to the treaty.
Bodies of the FHNW
Documents
The FHNW's organisational structure at a glance:
- FHNW (PDF, 107 KB)
- Services (PDF, 82 KB)
- FHNW School of Applied Psychology (56 KB)
- FHNW School of Architecture, Construction and Geomatics (PDF, 42 KB)
- Basel Academy of Art and Design FHNW (PDF, 59 KB)
- FHNW School of Business (PDF, 206 KB)
- FHNW School of Computer Science (PDF, 181 KB)
- FHNW School of Education (PDF, 70 KB)
- FHNW School of Engineering and Environment (PDF, 592 KB)
- FHNW School of Life Sciences (PDF, 602 KB)
- Basel Academy of Music FHNW (PDF, 103 KB)
- FHNW School of Social Work (PDF, 166 KB)