The online magazine of the University of Bern

The University of Bern makes a key economic contribution to the region. It attracts investment from the federal government and others, creates jobs and purchases services from local companies. Its employees and students are consumers in the region. The financial contribution of the canton generates roughly three times as much value added in the regional economy.

The Human Rights Law Clinic of the University of Bern was the first Swiss law clinic to work exclusively with real cases. We visited them – and learned what sets their curriculum apart and what inspires their students.

Seven members of the Education Commission of the Cantonal Parliament write to the University of Bern. They describe their view of the role of the University within the education system, its responsibility to society, and also their idea of how visible and accessible a university should be today.

The university is more than just teaching and research. In order to document its contribution to society, the Forum for University and Society (Forum für Universität und Gesellschaft, FUG) has been inviting participants to events for more than 20 years and successfully cultivating an exchange with the political leadership.

During the pandemic, Bern-based researchers conducted real-time analyses to determine how the media can most effectively curb conspiracy theories. A workshop for journalists brought together the worlds of academia and practice this year.

The University of Bern is strengthening the status of the Italian language in law. Iole Fargnoli, founder and director of the new Institute for Italian Legal Language, explains why Bern is the ideal location for it.

The Federal Council has operated the same way for almost 180 years. Should it undergo a radical modernization? Despite no major reforms, the Federal Council is very modern in certain respects, says Adrian Vatter, professor of political science.

Political scientist Klaus Armingeon is professor emeritus at the University of Bern. In his essay, he shows what significance trade unions still have in 2025, how they might have to modernize and what would be missing without them.

Switzerland has one of the best performing and most expensive healthcare systems. The Swiss Governance Forum 2025 asked how innovation can succeed despite regulation: cooperation is necessary in addition to initiative.

Anyone who lets AI work for them would be well advised to critically examine the results of its work. This is because, in principle, employees are liable, says Flora Stanischewski, a lecturer in labor law.

At the World Trade Institute (WTI), experts from all over the world developed proposals for the advancement of women. An interview with the two pioneers Elisa Fornalé from the WTI and Anoush der Boghossian from the World Trade Organization (WTO).

The World Trade Institute (WTI) has been a major influence on international trade law for 25 years. Founder Thomas Cottier and director of studies Isabelle Van Damme discuss what the Trump presidency means for world trade and what the WTI can contribute to solving the current challenges.

In a lecture at the University of Bern, American economist Edward L. Glaeser discussed the question of how cities can better prepare for challenges. After all, urbanization is increasing, which means there is a need for sufficient housing and efficient infrastructure.

In Switzerland, a person’s career path depends not only on their academic performance, but also on their parents: With the same performance, children from academic families have twice as much chance of obtaining a university degree as children from non-academics.

Researchers at the Centre for African Smart Public Value Governance (C4SP) study practices in Africa and aim to use this knowledge to strengthen African governments and administrations through local cooperation.

Economics cannot predict bank crashes or crises, says Professor of Economics Aymo Brunetti. But their insights would help us to mitigate the adverse effects of financial crises and fight inflation.

Renewable energies are to be expanded, but there is resistance to specific projects. How can we achieve the energy transition by 2050? An interview with political scientist Isabelle Stadelmann, economist Doina Radulescu and Cornelia Mellenberger, CEO of Energie Wasser Bern.

The scope for interpreting a law is often massive, explains Martino Mona. The Professor of Penal Law at the University of Bern is convinced that prejudices and personal attitudes also play an important role in court rulings.

Artificial intelligence increasingly serves as a decision-making aid. But who bears responsibility for its decisions and subsequent actions? Christoph Ammon from the Institute of Criminal Law and Criminology at the Uni of Bern investigates this.