School of Business and Engineering Vaud – HEIG-VD

With more than 1,600 students and a staff of 400, the School of Business and Engineering Vaud (HEIG-VD) is the largest partner within the University of Applied Sciences Western Switzerland. It was founded in 2005 when the school of Engineering Vaud (established in 1956) was merged with the School of Economics and Business Administration Vaud (1980).

The University has three campuses in Yverdon-les-Bains - all of which are within walking or cycling distance of each other and of Yverdon-les-Bains’s main railway station and the city center. HEIG-VD offers a wide range of undergraduate programs, including Business Administration, Engineering and Management, Computer Science, Media Engineering, Telecommunications, Microtechnology, Electrical Engineering.

International Summer University 2008

The goal of this summer university is to provide an opportunity for international collaboration and cultural exchange between American and Swiss students and faculty. Students from Switzerland and the US will have the possibility to attend courses taught in English by lecturers from all participating universities.

This summer program is jointly organized by HEIG-VD (Switzerland), San Jose State University, California State University Long Beach and Arizona State University. It will be held during 3 weeks from July 14 to August 1 at HEIG-VD in Yverdon-les-Bains, Switzerland offering courses in Computer Sciences.

Organization of the courses

Students can register for the different courses covering the topics:

·       Bioinformatics

·       Artificial Intelligence

·       Security and Computer Networks

·       Web Technologies

·       Ubiquitous Computing

·       Software engineering

 

Each course will be equivalent to 15 to 20 hours.

 

Each participating University has the option to provide participating students with elective units of academic credit in their major. During the Swiss Summer Program, students will be evaluated via assignments, projects, and exams in every course.

 

Funding

HEIG-VD together with the local government of the State of Vaud grants the following funding to candidates elected for participation:

·       Travel expenses will be reimbursed up to an amount of $1000

·       The accommodations fees ($600) in a university dorm will be 100% covered.

·       Swiss pass for free travel by train, metro, bus or boat during one month within Switzerland will be provided by HEIG-VD ($400).

 

Thus a total funding of $2’000 is provided to each of students participating in the International University 2008 program. Expenses associated with activities that are part of the summer program are also covered by HEIG-VD.

 

This covers most of the expenses; except meals, out-of-pocket money and tuition.

 

Students will need the following remaining budget for their 3-weeks stay:

·       Travel expenses (flight + insurance): ~$150

·       Living expenses for 3 weeks (meals, out-of-pocket money): $300 - $500

·       Tuition fee $250

 

The cost for students will be approximately $700 –$900.

 

Housing

Student accommodations will be located in Lausanne, 20 minutes by train from Yverdon-les-Bains. Lausanne, the capital of the Swiss canton of Vaud, is a medium sized city and host to the International Olympic Committee and two major universities. Located at the lake of Geneva and 30 minutes from the Alps, Lausanne is a perfect place for outdoor activities.

As you might expect, the large student population makes for a lively nightlife and arts community. You'll also find a number of quality restaurants and two dozen museums of note, including the Olympic Museum and the offbeat Collection de l'Art Brut. Architecture buffs should note that at the top of the old town you'll find the best preserved Gothic cathedral in Switzerland.
Activities

During the three weeks, many activities will be organized such as:

  • Montreux Jazz Festival (Deep Purple's “Smoke on the Water”)
  • Paléo Festival which is the biggest Swiss open air festival.
  • Barbecue
  • Sports like beach volleyball, soccer, swimming, windsurfing, ...
  • Visit of the United Nations Office (http://www.unog.ch/)  or CERN in Geneva
  • photoand more, including the celebration of the Swiss National Day on August 1.