Let’s reject budget cuts in education and research!

The planned reduction of 24 million francs in 2026 is a direct attack on the University and the services it provides. This attack comes in addition to the 460 million francs in annual federal cuts, which will affect universities and research funding bodies starting in 2026 — with equally catastrophic consequences.

Employees and students will be the first victims of an austerity policy that makes no economic sense, since every franc invested in the University brings four francs back to the Canton. But beyond the numbers, these cuts would lead to:

• large-scale job cuts in research, teaching, and administration at UNIL, one of the largest employers in the canton
• a serious deterioration of working conditions for UNIL staff
• a decline in the quality of research, preventing UNIL from contributing to current and future scientific developments, as well as damaging its national and international reputation
• a weakening of teaching and student support
• a high risk of increased tuition fees, as UNIL will no longer have the means to fulfill its missions.

We reject the Canton’s austerity policies, which are not a necessity but an ideological choice. By abandoning one of its fundamental missions — guaranteeing the funding, stability, and independence of scientific research and education — the government (Conseil d'État) shifts the burden of public and collective financing onto citizens. This choice weakens UNIL’s services, paves the way for the privatisation of research and education, worsens working and studying conditions, and subjects the University to a market-driven logic.

We stand for education that is accessible to all; for public, critical, and emancipatory education; for diverse and ambitious research carried out under dignified conditions, and for high-quality teaching — in the service of society.

We call on the cantonal parliament (Grand Conseil) to reject the cuts proposed by the government and to guarantee funding that meets the challenges at stake, for the future of UNIL and society.

To sign the petition.