Die Fachhochschulen in der Schweiz: Pfadabhängigkeit und Profilbildung

Abstract

The constitution of the universities of applied sciences at the beginning of the 1990s took place in a rapid and for Switzerland unusual pace which eventually led to a differentiation and growing variety in Swiss higher education. This contribution first tries to answer how the planning process has differentiated higher education policy, which actors have brought themselves into position, which guiding conceptions they had, and how they have collaborated. Second, on the basis of empirical data it can be shown which profile the universities of applied sciences developed under these conditions. This is documented by use of data for the teaching staff, for the students as well as the research. First and foremost we pick out questions regarding the vertical structuring of the tertiary educational system and the positioning of the education of highly qualified manpower. Two complementary theoretical perspectives help to put the findings into a systematic context and to read them. © (2010) Swiss Political Science Review.