Swiss Learning and Zista wrapped up their roadshow at The St. Regis in Mumbai with the “Discover the Excellence of Swiss Summer Camps” on February 20, 2025. Leading Swiss boarding schools came together for the event, giving families and kids a rare chance to learn about top-notch summer and winter camp experiences in Switzerland.
Prominent Swiss dignitaries, Mr. Martin Maier, the consul general of Switzerland, and Mr. Christophe Clivaz, the founder and director of Swiss Learning, honoured the occasion.
Swiss Learning’s founder and director, Christophe Clivaz, discussed the country’s high educational standards, the courses that make it a great place to study, the admissions procedure for Swiss institutions, the cost of tuition, and other topics with The Free Press Journal. Here are some excerpts from the interview:
GPlus: What makes Switzerland an attractive destination for students seeking education abroad?
Christophe: Swiss Learning is an organisation that promotes the excellence of Swiss education. We represent the leading boarding schools, camps, and hotel management schools in Switzerland. Our objective is to recruit students from India to study in Switzerland. Switzerland is a multilingual country with four national languages, making it an ideal place for multilingual education. Additionally, Switzerland is one of the safest countries in the world, offering an international environment that is truly unique. Students not only benefit from a top-tier education but also get to experience the breathtaking landscapes of Switzerland.
GPlus: What makes Swiss education unique compared to other nations in terms of academics?
Christophe: The best case in point is the International Baccalaureate (IB), which was established in Switzerland. Our nation lacks natural resources, so we invest a lot of money in both private and public education, which makes Switzerland the most competitive and innovative country in the world. We don’t only concentrate on hard skills but also on soft skills, which push students to become capable in their own right and think for themselves instead of merely copying previous generations’ work.
GPlus: What is the typical program Indian students follow in Switzerland?
Christophe: Indian students visit Switzerland to study the IB program, as they would in India, but in a totally different setting. The curriculum is the same, but they are exposed to international cultures, boarding school life, and special experiences that contribute to the development of their soft skills.
GPlus: How do Indian students get selected at Swiss institutions?
Christophe: We look for students who will add value to Swiss education not only academically but extracurricularly as well, whether through sports, the arts, or music. There are three or four applications to each place that we have, so we apply a holistic view to admissions where we don’t just look for academics.
GPlus: Is the Swiss process different from what other international or local schools in India use?
Christophe: Students need to go visit the schools first in Switzerland. I never tell anyone there is a ‘best’ school—there is just the right school for a child. You want students to come, spend some time on campus, and get a sense of the school’s culture before they decide. They also need to sit a placement test, which is then reviewed by an admissions committee that looks at not only grades, but also what the student might bring to the school.
GPlus: Is the admission procedure different for international students than for Swiss students?
Christophe: No, the admission procedure is the same for everyone.
GPlus: How does Swiss Learning facilitate cultural integration for international students?
Christophe: Our schools welcome students from more than 120 nationalities, so we have a very diverse and inclusive community. I like to say that Switzerland is a big salad bowl, not a melting pot—we invite students to bring and share their cultural heritage instead of assimilating into one culture. We don’t want students to become little Swiss citizens; we want them to learn from one another while studying and living together.
GPlus: Are there specific programs to promote cultural exchange?
Christophe: It happens naturally. Cultural integration is an experience-based education. They learn from each other through collective experiences as opposed to direct teaching.
GPlus: How has technology influenced learning in Swiss schools?
Christophe: Technology is changing every day. It’s important to instil in students that technology is a tool—that they need to know how to use it and critically analyse information found online. We emphasise fact-checking and understanding the risks of technology while also integrating it into daily learning.
GPlus: Do you think AI is necessary for education, or could it harm traditional learning?
Christophe: It’s not a choice; it’s a necessity. Traditional, top-down education—where teachers dictate everything—is outdated. Swiss education follows the philosophy of Jean Piaget, who believed education should encourage students to create and innovate rather than merely repeat past knowledge. This approach is essential for modern learning.
GPlus: Are there any plans for Swiss boarding schools to open campuses in India?
Christophe: No, because a Swiss school abroad wouldn’t be the same. It’s not academics alone; it’s the international atmosphere and special setting.
GPlus: What are the major advantages for international students to study in Switzerland?
Christophe: One of the greatest advantages is the alumni network. With students from more than 100 different nationalities, graduates have a worldwide network, offering lifelong possibilities.
GPlus: How does the Swiss education system prepare students for a global career?
Christophe: We have the IB program, similar to India, providing solid academic grounding. We also have students doing extracurricular activities, traveling in Europe, doing community service, and gaining an international outlook, so they are ready for global careers.
GPlus: What personality development changes do you see in students who study in Swiss boarding schools?
Christophe: The most significant change is a greater sense of responsibility and maturity. Swiss values place great importance on keeping promises and delivering high-quality work. Students are taught to make their own opinions, not simply take their parents’ beliefs. Independence and critical thinking are the major elements of Swiss education.
