Haute École Arc

Profile narrative

Haute École Arc (HE-Arc), also known as the University of Applied Sciences and Arts Western Switzerland, provides tertiary education focused on applied sciences and arts. It offers bachelor's and master's degree programmes in fields such as engineering, business informatics, health sciences, social work, design, and management. The institution also delivers continuing education and professional training courses aimed at upskilling the workforce. Its teaching model emphasises project‑based learning and close collaboration with regional enterprises.

HE-Arc serves students primarily from the western part of Switzerland, drawing learners from the cantons of Neuchâtel, Jura, Bern and surrounding regions. While exact enrolment figures are not supplied here, the school maintains multiple campuses located in the western part of the country. These sites enable it to offer regionally tailored programmes while sharing resources across the network.

A distinguishing attribute of HE-Arc is its strong orientation toward applied research that addresses concrete challenges faced by local industry and public services. The school hosts specialised competence centres in fields such as engineering, health technologies and design. It regularly partners with companies to develop prototypes, conduct feasibility studies, and transfer technology. This focus on practice‑oriented innovation positions HE-Arc as a key contributor to the region’s economic and social development.

Structurally, HE-Arc is a public institution that forms part of the HES-SO network, the umbrella organisation for universities of applied sciences in western Switzerland. It receives funding from cantonal and federal authorities and operates under the supervision of the Swiss State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation. The 2022 cyberattack on its systems, which led to temporary shutdowns of server access and email services, highlighted the institution’s reliance on secure digital infrastructure and prompted a review of its cybersecurity measures.

Incidents

1 incident linked to this organisation.