Switzerland a centre of excellence in education

It is a well known fact that studying in a specific country or under the guidance of someone coming from that country usually creates strong emotional bonds lasting for life. In the case of Switzerland this is particularly true because, landlocked and poor in natural resources, it has for a long time been dependent on international connections in order to survive. Several centuries ago already Swiss watchmakers were selling their products as far as Persia and China and Swiss teachers, private tutors and nannies were educating the children of the European aristocracy later founding many of the boarding schools for which the country is still famous. Their former pupils not only maintained close ties with them but later became regular visitors to our cities and resorts and patrons of our nascent tourism, healthcare and banking industries. They also began to send their own children to study in Switzerland contributing to its reputation as a centre of excellence in education.

Our best friends, the alumni

Today Switzerland has become prosperous but is as dependent as ever on the outside world. Our economy is based on the export of goods and services as well as on being an international finance, business and tourism centre. In order to maintain and develop our strengths we need friends abroad and our best friends are often the alumni of Swiss universities and schools. As a matter of fact in most capitals they form the nucleus of the network of contacts of embassies and consulates. They have not only studied in Switzerland for several years and are proud of it but have also experienced the life there, know our assets and understand our ways and values. Once back in their place of origin they usually occupy executive positions and are then a great source of advice and support to Swiss wishing to develop their activities in that particular country. They are in fact some of our best ambassadors throughout the world and that is the reason why in Hong Kong the Consulate General in partnership with UBS has been organizing for the past two years an annual reception to honor alumni living in the city. It is not only a happy occasion to meet schoolmates and to network but a unique opportunity to showcase the value of a Swiss education with a successful alumnus giving the keynote address.

We need to be more aggressive

So, for Switzerland, the long term benefits of foreign students studying in our universities and schools are immense. It is also achallenge because today education is an increasingly competitive market and many countries organize fairs and other promotional events in order to enrol top students. In such an environment we need to be even more aggressive in the marketing of our educational services and to let the world know better about the many advantages of an education in Switzerland. Attracting the best foreign students and developing international academic and research exchanges has rightly become one of the priorities of our foreign policy. We do it not only to lend support to an important economic sector but mainly as an essential investment in the future.

François Barras

	Ambassador François Barras Consul General of Switzerland in Hong Kong. Ambassador of Switzerland to Lebanon from March 2006. Born in 1952 in Crans-Montana (VS), Switzerland. Mr Barras is married and father of five children.
	1974 Bachelor Degree in Law, University of Geneva
	1983 PhD (legal anthropology), University of London (School of Oriental and African Studies)
	1983–1986 Missions with the UNDP and the World Bank in Burundi and in Haiti
	1986 Joined the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs, training in Bern, Switzerland and Israel
	1989– 1994 Counsellor in charge of the Cultural Section, in Washington, USA
	1994– 1995 Deputy Head of Mission, Embassy of Switzerland, Mexico-City, Mexico
	1995–1996 Head of the Culture and UNESCO Division, Bern, Switzerland
	1996– 1999 Adviser for diplomatic affairs, Bern, Switzerland
	1999–2003 Ambassador of Switzerland to the UAE (United Arab Emirates)
	2003–2006 Consul General of Switzerland in Hong Kong