In Switzerland, Movetia is the National Agency for Exchange and Mobility. It is funded by the State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation (SERI) together with other federal and cantonal stakeholders as well as private funders.
In terms of higher education mobility, Movetia works together with other institutions participating in the Swiss-European Mobility Programme (SEMP). This mobility scheme serves as an alternative to the Erasmus+ programme and provides a flat-rate grant to students. As of the 2021/2022 academic year, SEMP also promotes global mobility.
Providing additional financial support to persons with disabilities (“special needs”) is also part of SEMP.
Movetia provides:
– information on funding opportunities for students or higher education staff with disabilities who are planning a mobility,
– counselling for higher education institutions with regard to special needs grant applications,
– special needs grants to students or higher education staff with disabilities to lessen the extra costs that arise as the result of the mobility (grant payment via the Swiss higher education institution),
– financial support for the person accompanying the person with a disability, if applicable (payment via the Swiss higher education institution).
Together with the person with a disability, the Swiss higher education institution (the student/staff’s home institution) submits an application to Movetia for special needs funding. The application includes the following:
– the application form
– a brief description of the disability and the person’s special needs as well as a medical certificate
– a letter of confirmation from the student’s home institution
– an acceptance letter from the host institution for SEMP mobility
– a cost estimate (expected expenses)
The maximum special needs grant per mobility period is CHF 12,000. Applications must be submitted at the latest two months before the scheduled start of the mobility.
Students with a disability who are interested in organising a mobility through SEMP should get in touch with their home institution’s International Relations Office and Disability and Inclusion Office as early as possible.
If the student was awarded a cantonal public grant, the financial contribution is generally transferrable to another country, ensuring that the grant is continued during the student’s stay abroad.
The additional support services funded by the student’s disability insurance are likely also transferrable, but this depends on the individual services provided, which can vary according to the person’s special needs.