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Written with AI assistance•March 25, 2025•
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Generated IllustrationSwitzerland's final academic Tibetan language course faces closure, raising concerns about cultural preservation and academic diversity.
"If I want to deal with Tibet and Tibetan issues at an academic level, I can no longer find any courses on offer"
"Language training is definitely a contribution to a culture. But the University of Bern has no specific mandate to do so"
In a significant development for Switzerland's academic landscape, the University of Bern has announced the discontinuation of its Tibetan language program, marking the end of the last remaining university-level Tibetan language courses in Switzerland. The program, scheduled to cease operations from autumn 2025, has been a crucial educational resource for both the Tibetan diaspora and scholars interested in Central Asian studies.
The closure of this program carries particular significance given Switzerland's role as home to one of the largest Tibetan exile communities in the world. For third-generation Tibetans like Tenzin Yundung, a current masters student, the university program provided an essential bridge to their cultural heritage, offering advanced language instruction beyond the basic education available in weekend schools. The decision has sparked concerns about the preservation of Tibetan culture in exile and the future of academic engagement with Tibetan studies in Switzerland.
According to Christoph Pappa, Secretary General of the University of Bern, the decision stems from low enrollment in the Central Asian Cultural Studies programme. While acknowledging the cultural significance of language training, the university maintains it lacks a specific mandate for preserving cultural heritage. The closure reflects broader challenges in sustaining specialized academic programs amid resource constraints and changing educational priorities.
The Tibetan community and Swiss Tibet organizations have responded with concern, issuing an open letter calling for the preservation of the language courses. The discontinuation effectively ends the possibility of formal Tibetan studies in Switzerland's academic institutions. This development raises questions about alternative ways to maintain Tibetan language education and cultural preservation efforts in Switzerland, particularly given the country's historical significance as a hub for the Tibetan diaspora.