SERI's Remit

Numerous public and private stakeholders contribute to Switzerland’s federally structured system of education, research and innovation (ERI). They are responsible for performance, funding, legislation and strategic management.

SERI at a glance (PDF, 14 MB, 22.12.2022)

SERI's remit
Numerous public and private stakeholders contribute to Switzerland’s federally structured system of education, research and innovation (ERI). They are responsible for performance, funding, legislation and strategic management.

As the Confederation’s specialised agency for the ERI system, State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation has the following remit:

• Establishing a strategic overview of the Swiss education, research and innovation system and preparing federal performance and resource plans.
• Pursuing international networking activities and ensuring that Switzerland remains involved in European and global education, research and innovation efforts.
• Fostering a broad and diverse range of education opportunities, ensuring that academic and vocational/professional pathways remain fully equivalent and compatible with one another.
• Maintaining and improving the quality and appeal of vocational/professional pathways in keeping with changes taking place on the labour market.
• Safeguarding the high quality of teaching and research at higher education institutions.
• Promoting research and innovation, coordinating tasks and measures of federal research funding institutions.
• Promoting and coordinating Swiss space research activities.
• Coordinating the recognition of foreign professional qualifications (national contact point). It is also responsible for the recognition of cantonal academic baccalaureate qualifications, equivalence in professional qualifications and the recognition of foreign qualifications in vocational and professional education and training and for universities of applied sciences.

SERI pursues its remit in consultation with the cantons, professional organisations, higher education institutions and bodies as well as with other stakeholders involved in the promotion of research and innovation. SERI is responsible for relations with national and international authorities and institutions. It also represents the Confederation at national and international forums.