Diversity makes a key contribution to excellence in Swiss research and teaching. Taking into account and promoting equal opportunities and diversity in all their dimensions is therefore a cross-cutting issue that affects all Swiss universities equally. They campaign to ensure that equal opportunities are guaranteed in teaching, research and the organisation of the institutions of higher education.

swissuniversities has managed equal opportunities and diversity programmes for several years (currently Diversity, Inclusion and Equal Opportunities in University Development 2021–2024, to be followed by another program from 2025 onwards) and collects figures on this issue (Gendermonitoring). It also deals with questions on dual careers, access to the Swiss higher education system for refugee students and scholars and making studies more flexible.