UZH Welcomes Université Paris-Saclay to Universitas 21
Université Paris-Saclay has joined Universitas 21 (U21) as of 1 February 2026, becoming the 31st member of this global network spanning 19 countries. For the University of Zurich (UZH), this expansion creates fresh opportunities for partnerships that equip students and staff to thrive in an interconnected academic landscape.
U21 unites world-leading research universities around a shared mission: to nurture well-informed global citizens and leaders through international collaboration and dialogue. The network establishes a unique platform that enables students, researchers, and professional staff to collaborate across national boundaries through joint programs, cross-border learning opportunities, and teaching innovations that extend higher education's global reach.
Paris-Saclay's entry strengthens the network's footprint in Europe, where it joins ten European peer institutions. The French university has earned international acclaim for its strengths across science and engineering, life sciences and health, and humanities and social sciences. The university's science policy closely intertwines research and innovation, incorporating both basic and applied science to tackle major societal challenges, reflecting shared priorities with UZH.
Building on existing ties
Active engagement in U21 enables UZH to shape international dialogues on educational innovation, support academic mobility and development, and offer students distinctive learning experiences that transcend borders.
Paris-Saclay's membership strengthens the ties the two universities have been cultivating. Joint activities between UZH and Université Paris-Saclay range from co-supervised PhD programs in Romance studies to collaborative research in plant and microbial biology, evolutionary biology, mathematics, computer science, and environmental sciences. This disciplinary breadth reflects deep alignment in research priorities.
UZH sees clear benefits from this new membership. Katja Durkin-Sommerhalder, Head Global Affairs at UZH and U21 Senior Leader, comments: “We are delighted to welcome the Université Paris-Saclay to U21. UZH and Paris-Saclay are now connected through two major networks: U21 and the League of European Research Universities (LERU). This broader connection opens up new opportunities for collaboration, knowledge sharing, and exciting experiences for students, academics and staff – at a global scale.”
Aspasia Daskalopoulou
