The FHNW opens two new universities

The FHNW is realigning itself in the fields of information technology, engineering and the environment. The UAS is thus responding to the growing shortage of skilled workers, accelerating the transfer of knowledge to the economy and opening up new prospects for young talent in the cantons of Aargau, Basel-Landschaft, Basel-Stadt and Solothurn - this is the clear objective.

Education as the key

The founding of the two universities is a strategic response by the four sponsoring cantons of Aargau, Basel-Landschaft, Basel-Stadt and Solothurn to the rapid pace of social and technological change. The demand for qualified specialists in these areas and in the field of energy is growing rapidly - as is the need for sustainable solutions to ecological and digital challenges. The two new universities are therefore focusing on forward-looking topics such as artificial intelligence, digitalization, cybersecurity, energy, the environment, sustainable use of resources and robotics.

With the new study programs, the FHNW is creating additional study places in future-oriented disciplines in Northwestern Switzerland, thereby strengthening its position as a leading educational and research institution. "With the FHNW School of Engineering and Environment and the FHNW School of Computer Science, we are underlining the strategic role of the FHNW in the sustainable development of our region. We provide training where the economy urgently needs skilled workers and where research creates new prospects," says Prof. Dr. Crispino Bergamaschi, President of the FHNW Executive Board.

FHNW School of Computer Science: Shaping digitalization as an opportunity

The digital transformation and the impact of artificial intelligence are leading to profound changes in the economy and society. This calls for new skills, new forms of education and a focus on lifelong learning. The FHNW School of Computer Science sees this as an opportunity and sees itself as a driving force. It relies on a dynamic interplay between education, research and practice. The focus is on the development of new courses, innovative learning formats and the establishment of specialized labs in which students, researchers and companies work together on solutions for the digital future.

The fall semester 2025 marks the start of the first new courses: Artificial Intelligence & High Performance Computing will create a unique combination of AI and high-performance computing infrastructure. The university is thus positioning itself at an interface where AI algorithms are used to efficiently train, simulate and scale complex models on large amounts of data - thus enabling new applications in research and industry.

Another offering is Data Science & Artificial Intelligence for Sustainabilty, where students learn to use data and AI specifically for sustainable innovations - for example by optimizing energy systems, modelling climate scenarios or developing resource-saving technologies. Other study programs will soon follow, including Security, Platforms & DevOps, which combines urgently needed cybersecurity expertise with agile platform development and DevOps processes. The next milestone will be the opening of the new location in Basel in summer 2026, where research, teaching, continuing education and knowledge transfer will take place at the highest level in direct cooperation with business and society.

Thinking technology and the environment together: FHNW strengthens its profile

The FHNW School of Engineering is specifically expanding its profile to include the environment and is now operating as the FHNW School of Engineering and Environment. With this step, it is responding to key challenges such as climate change, resource scarcity and the transformation of the energy supply. The aim is to link technology and the environment more closely and to develop sustainable, practical solutions for society and the economy.

The strategic development focuses on the environmental topics of energy, materials and cycles. The new Materials Engineering course will be launched as early as 2026 - a unique course in the Swiss university of applied sciences landscape that aims to meet the industry's need for practically trained specialists in materials engineering. Courses are also being launched in the areas of digitalization and new technologies. From the coming semester, the mechanical engineering course will offer the new specialization "Computational Engineering", with a focus on data acquisition, simulation, modelling and the use of artificial intelligence in technical systems. The interdisciplinary specialization "Robots and Drones" is also in preparation, which will enrich several degree courses in this area.

Cooperative, practical, forward-looking

With the opening of the two new universities, the FHNW is underlining its claim to be not only an educational institution, but also a driving force for the economic and social development of the region. With the two new educational institutes, the foundation has been laid for further growth in study programs and research activities. The FHNW invites companies, institutions and public bodies to collaborate - in study projects, innovation partnerships and further education.

Source and further information: www.fhnw.ch