Neuchâtel, 11.05.2012 (FSO) – The Federal Council has commissioned the Federal Statistical Office (FSO) to develop indicators to complement the gross domestic product (GDP). This is because a comprehensive picture of developments in society, the economy and the environment cannot be provided by GDP alone. The FSO is carrying out the mandate in two phases. In the first phase, the results of which are being presented today by the FSO, existing statistical information is placed in the context of the economy or of society as a whole. This initial, rough compilation clearly shows that overall, Switzerland comes out quite well in terms of social, economic and ecological performance. Subsequently, the FSO will further develop and consolidate the indicator set and the results.
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Neuchâtel, 26.09.2011 (FSO) - At least 20% of students mobile during their studies: that is the target for 2020 set by the 46 education ministers of the European Space for Higher Education. What is the situation in Switzerland? A new publication by the Federal Statistical Office (FSO) shows that this rate was narrowly reached (20.9%) among students who obtained a university Master's degree or university diploma/licentiate degree in 2008. If Bachelor's degree graduates are also taken into account, the rate drops to 15.7% in the universities and 7.0% in the universities of applied sciences and universities of teacher education.
Neuchâtel, 17.05.2011 (FSO) - In an international comparison, Swiss companies spent substantial sums on their research and development (R&D) activities in 2008. This investment was not only marked in Switzerland, but also in foreign affiliates. These expenditures abroad do not, however, call into question the dynamism of R&D in Switzerland. The marked internationalisation of Swiss R&D, the intensification of international exchanges and the growing participation of the Swiss federal government in international research projects are the key findings of a new analysis by the Federal Statistical Office (FSO).
Neuchâtel, 23.11.2010 (FSO) - Three-quarters of university students pursue their studies concurrently with paid work, even after the Bologna reform. However, this proportion is down slightly from 2005. Ahead of paid work, relatives remain the main source of financial support for students and provide on average more than half their funding. Grants and student loans account for less than 10% of students' resources.
Neuchâtel, 14.06.2010 (FSO) - According to estimates from the Federal Statistical Office (FSO), private enterprise, the Swiss government and the universities spent CHF 16.3 billion on research and development (R&D) activities in 2008. This is an increase of CHF 3.2 billion (+24%) over 2004, the last year for which data are available. This R&D expenditure accounts for 3% of the gross domestic product (GDP), making Switzerland a country that is particularly active in the area of R&D.
Neuchâtel, 31.05.2010 (FSO) - Approximately one year after obtaining their degree, more than two thirds of employed university graduates are successful professionally and almost nine out of ten view their jobs positively, irrespective of their objective employment conditions. These are the main findings of an analysis of professional success presented by the Federal Statistical Office (FSO), which also addresses current issues relating to universities such as the Bologna reform, the internationality and finances of universities, as well as student mobility.
Neuchâtel, 11.05.2010 (FSO) - According to a recent study published by the Federal Statistical Office (FSO), a clear majority of the Swiss population participates in continuing education activities. Independent study such as self-directed learning is the most popular form of continuing education. Non-formal educational activities based on a student-teacher relationship, such as classes, seminars and lectures are also popular, as more than one person out of two chooses this type of continuing education. Although participation rates are high overall, there are observable differences depending on individuals' labour market status and level of education.
Neuchâtel, 16.02.2010 (FSO) - Private enterprises spent almost CHF 12 billion on research and development activities (R&D) they conducted in Switzerland in 2008. This amount exceeds by CHF 2.3 billion (+24%) the expenditures posted in 2004 (9.6 billion), the last year surveyed. This result enables Switzerland to remain at the top of the world ranking. Moreover, Swiss enterprises are rapidly globalising their R&D activities. These are the main results of a study carried out by the Federal Statistical Office (FSO) in partnership with economiesuisse.
Neuchâtel, 07.12.2009 (FSO) - Although science is no longer a male prerogative, an analysis by the Federal Statistical Office (FSO) of the European Commission's publication "She Figures 2009" shows that in Switzerland, as elsewhere in Europe, gender equality has not yet been accomplished in this domain. While the numbers show that women's participation in scientific research has generally been growing at a faster rate than men's over the past decade, this trend has not yet led to gender equality, either in Switzerland or in the rest of Europe. Published every three years, since 2003 "She Figures" has presented indicators on women's participation in scientific research in Europe. It is used by the European Union as a point of reference to evaluate progress towards gender equality in this field. The figures presented here refer mainly to data from 2006 and 2007.
Neuchâtel, 06.07.2009 (FSO) - According to calculations by the Federal Statistical Office, the Confederation's support for research and development (R&D) increased by CHF 175 million between 2006 and 2008, reaching a record CHF 1.527 billion. This result, a 13% increase compared with 2006, is part of a trend observed since the beginning of the millennium. It is mainly due to the sharp increase in third-party financing through contributions from the Confederation. R&D conducted by the Confederation for its own use is registering only slow growth.
Neuchâtel, 22.01.2009 (FSO) - Switzerland has improved its performance in the field of innovation and is now European leader. While maintaining its traditional strong points, it has gradually caught up with other European countries in areas where it had been lagging, such as education and research funding. This strengthening at high level is the main conclusion drawn by the Federal Statistical Office (FSO) from the analysis of the eighth edition of “European Innovation Scoreboard”.
Neuchâtel, 26.09.2008 (FSO) - Students at Swiss institutes of higher education are less likely than their European colleagues to benefit from halls of residence and grants to pay for their education. However their chances of attending an institute of higher education depend less on their parents' social status than in most other European countries. These and other findings emerge from the “Eurostudent” project which the Federal Statistical Office is taking part in for the first time.
Neuchâtel, 09.09.2008 (FSO) - The number of people in the education system is growing in most OECD countries. Switzerland is no exception. The average duration of education has risen markedly in the OECD area over the past ten years as a result of the growing number of children in pre-primary programmes (e.g. nursery school) and particularly the growing number of students attending university. These and other findings are published in the latest Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) education indicators publications.
The Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development and Statistics Canada have published Learning a Living: First Results of the Adult Literacy and Life Skills Survey. The report presents data for seven populations: Bermuda, Canada, Italy, the Mexican State of Nuevo León, Norway, Switzerland and the United States. The Adult Literacy and Life skills study adds to the understanding of adult skill afforded by the International Adult Literacy Survey (IALS) that was conducted in the 1990's.
Compared with other countries, students in Switzerland have average reading skills. Every fifth person tested is only able to understand a simple text, at most, on completion of compulsory education, leaving them ill prepared for embarking on professional life. Young people in Switzerland rate only average in science too but their performance was above average in mathematics. Not all students can benefit from elementary schooling in Switzerland to the same extent: young people from families with little educational awareness and those from immigrant families with an inferior knowledge of the language in which they are taught have poorer chances of making the most of their potential.
