Kalaidos University of Applied Sciences: Bridging Practice and Research in Swiss Applied Higher Education
Introduction
Kalaidos University of Applied Sciences (Kalaidos UAS) stands out in the Swiss higher education landscape as the only private, institutionally accredited University of Applied Sciences. Since its establishment in 1997, Kalaidos has excelled in offering professionally relevant, practice-oriented study programs designed for working professionals. Blending applied research, continuing education, and quality-driven teaching, the university supports around 4,300 students with a robust network of lecturers and staff committed to educational excellence (kalaidos-fh.ch, Everything Explained Today).
1. Establishment & History
1.1 Foundation
Kalaidos UAS was founded in 1997 under the names PHW Private Hochschule Wirtschaft and AKAD Hochschule für Berufstätige, initially focusing on business programs for working professionals (Everything Explained Today, Wikipedia).
1.2 Accreditation Milestones
- 2005: Received approval from the Swiss Federal Council to operate as a University of Applied Sciences (Everything Explained Today, Wikipedia).
- 2013–2015: Gained federal accreditation under the new Higher Education Act (HEdA), effective from January 1, 2015 (Everything Explained Today, Wikipedia).
- 2022: Renewal of institutional accreditation confirmed by the Swiss Accreditation Council, recognizing Kalaidos for “efficient process organization” and “high student satisfaction” (Wikipedia).
1.3 Ownership & Affiliations
Kalaidos UAS is operated by the Kalaidos Education Group, which has been part of the Klett Group since 2019. It is a member of Swissuniversities, the Rectors’ Conference of Swiss Universities (Everything Explained Today, Wikipedia).
2. Affiliations & Accreditation
- Institutionally accredited by the Swiss Accreditation Council in accordance with the Higher Education Funding and Coordination Act (HFKG) (kalaidos-fh.ch, Wikipedia).
- A recognized member of Swissuniversities (Everything Explained Today, Wikipedia).
- No government subsidies—operates independently as a private foundation under Swiss law (Everything Explained Today, Wikipedia).
3. Departments & Courses Offered
Kalaidos UAS offers part-time, professionally oriented programs in five departments:
- Business and Management: Offers BSc, MSc, MBA/EMBA, MAS, DAS, CAS programs via institutes including Accounting & Controlling (study in switzerland+, Everything Explained Today).
- Health (Careum School of Health): Dedicated to nursing and health-related further education (Everything Explained Today, kalaidos-fh.ch).
- Music (Kalaidos University of Music): Established in 2011, unique among private Swiss institutions (Everything Explained Today, Wikipedia).
- Law (Kalaidos Law School): Offers Bachelor of Law and specialized courses in compliance, tax, labor, paralegal law, etc. (Everything Explained Today, Wikipedia).
- Applied Psychology: Founded in 2022, offers BA and consecutive MA with specialisations in business and clinical psychology (Everything Explained Today, Wikipedia).
Programs are delivered part-time and flexibly—well-suited for professionals balancing studies with work or other commitments (kalaidos-fh.ch, study in switzerland+).
4. Facilities & Campus Locations
4.1 Campuses & Contacts
- Main location & offices:
- Kalaidos Business School, Law School, School of Applied Psychology: Jungholzstrasse 43, 8050 Zurich, Tel: 044 200 19 19 (kalaidos-fh.ch).
- Careum School of Health: Gloriastrasse 18a, 8006 Zurich, Tel: 043 222 63 00 (kalaidos-fh.ch).
4.2 Infrastructure & Support
- Strong emphasis on flexible, high-quality teaching, supported by dedicated lecturers and administrative staff (kalaidos-fh.ch).
- Institutional quality management system (K-QMS) ensuring continuous improvement across teaching, research, and services (kalaidos-fh.ch).
- Additional support: Ombudsman’s Office, integrity and inclusion initiatives, sustainability and diversity measures (kalaidos-fh.ch).
5. Facts & Figures
- Students: approx. 4,307 as of December 2024 (kalaidos-fh.ch).
- Lecturers: around 1,000, plus 156 staff members (kalaidos-fh.ch).
- Researchers: 13 in practice-oriented research and development roles (kalaidos-fh.ch).
- Alumni: over 12,000 graduates to date (Everything Explained Today, Wikipedia).
6. Academic Excellence & Teaching Quality
- Top-level customer orientation, applied relevance, and quality are ingrained in its mission (kalaidos-fh.ch).
- Emphasizes practical impact—programs often designed for immediate professional applicability (study in switzerland+).
- Quality processes managed via K-QMS to align teaching, research, and services with high standards (kalaidos-fh.ch).
7. Career Development & Placement
While specific placement cell details are not listed, Kalaidos prioritizes flexibility, industry relevance, and continuing education tailored to professional needs—suggesting a strong linkage to employability (study in switzerland+, kalaidos-fh.ch).
8. Research Activities
- Applied research and development are mandatory performance mandates (Everything Explained Today, study in switzerland+).
- Each department hosts research units responsible for practical R&D and guiding students in research methods (Everything Explained Today, study in switzerland+).
- Contributes to practice-oriented projects, thesis supervision, journal publications, and external services (study in switzerland+).
9. Scholarships & Fellowships
No specific scholarships or fellowships are detailed on the official site. However, the institution’s model of continuing education and flexible study options may offer cost-efficient pathways for professional advancement (study in switzerland+, kalaidos-fh.ch).
10. Notable Alumni
Identified notable alumni include:
- Laetitia Noemi Hahn (pianist),
- Nuron Mukumi (pianist),
- Sergey Belyavskyi (pianist) (Everything Explained Today, Wikipedia).
11. Reputation, Rankings & Awards
- Recognized for efficient organizational processes and high student satisfaction, as noted in accreditation evaluations (Wikipedia).
- Celebrated for practice-oriented, flexible programs serving working professionals—confirmed by its strong positioning among Swiss applied universities (study in switzerland+, kalaidos-fh.ch).
Conclusion
Kalaidos University of Applied Sciences epitomizes practice-integrated, quality-driven higher education in Switzerland. Since its 1997 founding, it has evolved into a leading private UAS, committed to serving professionals through flexible, part-time programs underpinned by applied research and strong quality management. With a diverse departmental offering, accredited status, and student-centric structure, Kalaidos UAS continues to bridge the gap between academic rigor and real-world impact.
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